Speeds and Feeds And their Effects on Surface Finish

In metal cutting and manufacturing industries, the surface finish of a product is very crucial in determining the quality. Excellent surface finish not only assures quality but also reduces manufacturing cost. Surface finish is essential regarding tolerances, it reduces assembly time and avoids the need for a secondary operation, thus reduces operation time and leads to overall cost reduction. Also, surface finish plays an integral role in the use of composite materials that need to be bonded to metal parts. This subject is a not easy to learn as the surface finish can vary from part to part with the same spindle speeds and feed rate. To master this skill set the machinist must use critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To figure out the how to obtain the best surface finish consistency from part to part. Students will learn about the process required to machine different materials, or the combination of different materials just as I did while working in Lockheed Martin Parts, Materials, and Processes: Engineering Development Lab.