Minimum Quantity Lubrication: Influence of the Oil Nature on Surface Integrity

Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) is a lubrication method in machining field. It consists in spraying very small amount of oil to the cutting edge with compressed air. This technique decreases friction between chip and the cutting face of the tool which leads to better surface finish and tool life. Well-chosen oil will give best results on surface integrity. Regarding the choice of oil, this paper aims to identify the evolution of tool temperature, tool wear, surface roughness and cutting forces in milling process. The influence of two oils (synthetic ester and fatty alcohol) is investigated and compared with dry machining.