Quality enhancement of micro-milled channels with automated laser assistance

Microchannels are utilised on material surfaces of a body, allowing coolant to pass through them and enabling heat dissipation by increased contact area. Fabrication of metal surface microchannels is primarily achieved by employing a micro-milling process, which has drawbacks such as excessive cutting forces, top burrs, tool wear, and lower tool life. Alternatively, it is also realised by using Laser micro milling, which has problems associated with lower quality of surface finish, un-desired taper, heat-affected zone, and spatters. The existing literature, after due review of the current state of the art, has brought out gaps needing attention. These gaps are limited capability to reduce surface roughness, unaddressed burr width, and irregular bottom surface morphology, which affect microchannel quality. These gaps motivate this research work to improve and sustain the microchannel quality. To achieve the goals, this research work performs the fabrication of microchannels by micro-milling with automated laser assistance being achieved in two ways (a) sequentially, (b) non-sequentially, termed as LASMM and LPCMM, which are novel for the scientific community. The effects of micro milling parameters, spindle speed and feed on the quality were analysed while machining commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti). Results show that laser assistance to micro-milling provides a lower generation of undesired forces and lesser top burrs compared to micro-milling alone. In sequential laser assistance, the channels have a mean down burr width ~ 58% lower and a maximum down burr width ~ 38% lower than the channels done non-sequentially. In the case of up-burr width, a mean value ~ 60% lower and a maximum value ~ 73% lower is achieved in channels done non-sequentially as compared to those done sequentially. In the case of surface roughness, channels done sequentially have a maximum Sa value of 1.508 μm, a maximum Sq value of 1.912 μm whereas non-sequentially, they show a maximum Sa value of 3.495 μm, maximum Sq value of 4.59 μm. Steady tool wear is observed sequentially, whereas in non-sequential, rapid tool wear occurs after 500 mm of cutting length.