Analysis of carbon footprint during CNC turning by using life cycle assessment method

Abstract

Cutting fluids and method of lubrication systems play important role in manufacturing industries. However, usage of cutting fluids have contaminated environment and being environmentally disposal which accounted for approximately 17% of total production cost. Some eco-friendly machining methods, such as MQL machining and dry machining method, have been developed instead of traditional flooding method. Besides, environmental burden analyser for machine tool operation is developed to evaluate an NC program from the view point of an environment burden by simulating a cutting process using life cycle assessment approach (LCA). In this paper, the environmental burden analysis (emission of carbon dioxide) of dry, MQL and nano-MQL (Al2O3) machining operations are carried out by using this analyser with consideration of various situations. The effect of the devices, spindle, servo motors, pump, types of cutting fluid, lubricant oil and metal chips to global warming are included. Through the analyser, LCA of various cutting fluids and cooling method during machining can be investigated and propose an environmentally friendly cooling method in CNC turning of Inconel 718. At the end of this report shows that dry machining is the most sustainable machining process during CNC turning of Inconel 718 which emitted the least amount of environment burden compare to MQL and nano-MQL.