Process parameters optimization using Taguchi and RSM to minimize the damage in the drilling of GFRP composites

The main objective of this paper is to study the effect of process parameters such as spindle speed & feed rate, drill diameter & point angle, and material thickness on the push down delamination during the drilling of Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composite laminate using solid carbide drill bits. The number of runs and the combination of independent variables for each run was estimated by adopting full factorial Design of Experiment (DOE) method. The data obtained from the experimentation was analyzed using Taguchi Method and Response Surface Methodology. The analysis indicates that material thickness is the main contributing parameter for the variation in the push down delamination. The least contributing parameter is spindle speed. The results reveal that, except for the spindle speed, the increase in the level of independent parameters increases the delamination. But as spindle speed increases, the push down delamination deceases. The correlation between thrust force and the push down delamination is also predicted. The optimum combination of process parameter settings has been found out using Taguchi method and Response Surface Methodology (RSM).