Influence of Process Parameters on Cutting Force and Torque of Drilling of Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Drilling is an essential operation in the assembly of the structural frames of automobiles and aircrafts. The life of a joint can be critically affected by the quality of the drilled holes. Drilling of composite materials is significantly affected by damage tendency of these materials under the action of cutting forces (thrust force and torque).Composite laminates of three different types were fabricated by using E-glass fiber and epoxy resin in the laboratory. The trials as per the design of experiments were performed using Taguchi method. The results indicate that composite prepared with a randomly oriented fiber mat (chopped strand mat) gives the best hole with the least value of damage factor at a spindle speed of 450 rpm and at a drill tool angle of 1100. Further, it is found that the peak torque and thrust force required for this combination are in their minimum levels.