Experimental evaluation of laser-assisted machining of silicon carbide particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composites

An experimental study on machining of a particle-reinforced metal matrix composite (MMC) subjected to laser-assisted machining (LAM) was conducted. The MMC studied is an A359 aluminum matrix composite reinforced with 20 % by volume fraction silicon carbide particles. LAM was evaluated experimentally for its potential to improve machinability while minimizing the subsurface damage. The effectiveness of LAM was studied by measuring the cutting forces, specific cutting energy, surface roughness, subsurface damage, and tool wear under various material removal temperatures (Tmr). The optimum Tmr is established as 300 °C, with LAM providing a 37 % reduction in the surface roughness, a 12 % reduction in the specific cutting energy, and 1.7–2.35 times improvement in tool life over conventional machining dependent on the cutting speed.