Vegetable oil based
cutting fluid developed from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) was used as a
lubricant in the cutting operation of mild steel rod on a lathe machine with
varying cutting speed, feed rates and depth of cut. The results were compared
to that of other cutting fluids such as groundnut oil, palm oil and soluble oil
(conventional). The parameters investigated were chip thickness ratio, surface
temperature and cutting forces. Other parameters that were compared are
viscosity values, corrosion rates and acidity. The performance of CNSL in this
work when compared to soluble oil, groundnut oil and palm oil shows that it has
good cutting fluid properties in the machining operation of mild steel. Amongst
other things it can reduce surface temperature, chip thickness ratio and
cutting forces which is due mainly to its high viscosity which is a major
characteristic of most vegetable oils.
