ABSTRACT
In this work, cutting fluid emulsion was developed from soya beans and the performance of the developed cutting fluid was evaluated by comparison with the conventional cutting fluid (control sample), using its ability to effectively perform as coolant during machining operation. The machining operation employed was the turning operation in which chips produced were collected and their surface finishes measured. The chips collected were evaluated for chip thickness ratio. Also, the temperature variations during cutting operation were measured using an infra- red gun thermometer. Temperature, surface finishing as well as chip formation rates using the developed cutting fluid under different cutting speed (rev/min), feed rate (mm/rev) and depth of cut (mm) was compared with that of the conventional cutting fluid. The average temperature of the work piece when developed cutting fluid was used as cutting fluid was 53.13 oC and that of the conventional cutting fluid was 54.7 oC. The result are very close, hence it shows better result in conducting heat away from cutting region. The developed cutting fluid gave an average high chip thickness of 0.446 mm while that of the conventional cutting fluid was found to be 0.316 mm. The high chip thickness of the developed cutting fluid is probably due to its better lubricating ability which allows easier and deep penetration of cutting tools. The average viscosity of the developed cutting fluid was found to be 31.1 poise at 29 oC, while the convectional cutting fluid was 47 poise at 29 oC. Low viscosity means high viscosity index, the developed cutting fluid has tendency to be fluid at higher temperature than the convectional fluid. In corrosion measurement, the developed cutting fluid shows no sign of corrosion; hence, the fluid has good ability to inhibit corrosion than the convectional cutting fluid.