14 - An Investigation of Factors Affecting the Machinability of Ductile Cast Irons

Abstract:

Users of ductile iron castings who have more than one supplier have been aware of wide differences in machinability of the products from different suppliers as well as changes in machinability of castings from the same producer day to day and piece to piece. Cost reduction is achieved by machinability improvement and consistency which is a requirement for automated machining lines and high production. Hardness is not a general indicator of machinability, but serves to qualify castings within each type of process. All too often castings with similar hardness measurements show significant differences in machinability.