Technological Assessment in Machining of CuSn10-C Powder Parts

The main objective of this paper was to investigate machinability and technological assessment of powder metallurgy (PM) parts, especially bushings made by PM process. The bushings are made of CuSn10-C powder. Machining of the PM bushings was performed under various technological parameters, such as a cutting speed, a depth of cut and a feed. The main objective was to achieve or improve surface roughness (Sa – 0.3 to 0.6 μm) of machined bushing. Surface roughness is one of the main parameters, in result of which satisfactory performance of the bushing is achieved. The values of technological parameters were changed starting from the suggested technological parameters by a tool manufacturer and were further modified on step-by-step basis by evaluation of surface roughness of each machined PM bushing. Moreover, for evaluation and characterization of surface roughness not only 2D profile roughness measurements were used, but also 3D surface roughness measurement methodologies were used additionally allowing to investigate correlation between these two types measurement techniques. The results showed that technological assessment might be achieved in several ways not only by one best result.