Optimization of Laser Parameters and Dimple Geometry Using PCA-Coupled GRG

Stainless steel (SS316L) is applied in numerous fields due to its intrinsic properties. In this study, micro-dimples were fabricated on SS316L. The effects of laser process parameters, such as frequency, average power, and pulse duration, on the average dimple diameter, dimple distance, and dimple depth were studied using an L9 orthogonal array. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multi-objective optimization technique, principal-component-analysis-coupled grey relational grade (GRG), was used to optimize laser process parameters on output responses. The optimal machining parameter settings obtained for the highest GRG peak value of 0.2642 are 15 kHz (frequency), 12 W (average power), and 1500 ns (pulse duration). The ANOVA results showed that average power is the most influential factor, contributing 86.40 % to performance measures (average dimple diameter (φ), dimple distance (d), and depth (l). Moreover, the effect of process parameters was studied using mean effect plots, and the micro-dimple quality was analysed using SEM micrographs.