Abstract

This paper presents a study of the woodturning performance and efficiency using the Taguchi methodology for dynamic systems. According to this methodology, the woodturning process was characterized by two generic functions: for the first one, the specific cutting energy is related linearly to the cutting power, in the second with the amount of cut. These parameters were measured depending on two control factors namely the depth of cut and the rotational speed which were varied following a design of experiment. The variability, involved during woodturning, was considered by a single variable with two levels for which signal to noise ratios and sensitivities were calculated for each combination of the design. To improve productivity of woodturning, the work efficiency analysis was based on a larger signal to noise ratio with a maximized sensitivity; to improve machining quality, the performance analysis was based on a larger signal to noise ratio but a smaller sensitivity. The optimal conditions of woodturning were obtained corresponding to cutting performance and work efficiency with reduced variability.

Key words: Woodturning, Taguchi methodology, signal to noise, sensitivity, generic function, work efficiency, performance analysis.