Tool-Life Testing by Response Surface Methodology—Part 1

This paper presents a study of tool-life testing by a statistical approach, referred to as response surface methodology, instead of the conventional one-variable-at-a-time method. With this new technique the number of tests required to develop a tool-life predicting equation can be substantially reduced. The reliability of such an equation can also be estimated. Three independent variables, speed, feed, and depth of cut, were investigated in this project. A simple first order equation is “graduated” in Part 1 and a more general second-order equation will be presented in Part 2 of this study.