OPTIMIZATION OF SANDING PARAMETERS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

The main objective of this work is to develop a mathematical model to evaluate optimum sanding conditions of Europen black pine (Pinus nigra). Samples were sanded using different of grit size, feed rate, cutting speed and depth of cut. Average surface roughness (Ra) values of each type of specimens were measured employing a stylus type of equipment. Interaction between sanding parameters and surface roughness of the species were analyzed using Minitab software and response surface methodology. Based on the fi ndings in the work feed rate, cutting speed, grit size and depth of cut values of 5,39 m/min, 19,75 m/sec, 220 (grit size) and 9 mm were determined as optimum sanding conditions.


INTRODUCTION
Sanding is one of the most common processes in the woodworking industry.This process effects surface roughness and surface coating performance (Gurau et al. 2015, Hiziroglu et al. 2014, Kılıç et al. 2006, Magoss 2015, Vitosyte et al. 2012).The surface roughness is signifi cant factor infl uencing overall manufacturing process such as bonding quality, painting properties and processing time.However wood sanding operation depends on to several factors such as anatomical structure, moisture, hardness, density, annual ring variation, cell structure early wood latewood latewood ratio (Hiziroglu et al. 2013, Ratnasingman andScholz 2006).Additionally, wide belt sanding machine is commonly used for furniture industry.The machine conditions including grit size, feed rate and pressure effected the surface quality (Ozdemir and Hiziroglu 2007, Moura and Hernandez 2006, Gurau et al. 2013).The sanding process is a complex process due to the anisotropic and heterogeneous nature of the wood material (Saloni et al. 2010).Sanding plays a signifi cant role on different aspects of furniture manufacturing such as fi nishing, coating as well as surface quality (Landry and Blanchet 2012, Hernández and Cool 2008, Scrinzi et al. 2011).Therefore, it is very diffi cult to optimize different process so that a model can be applied for that purpose.Selection of optimum machining parameters is necessary to provide better surface quality and process planning.Design of experiment is an important step determining interaction between the parameters considered in this study.Advanced experimental design is required to reduce the number of experiment.Design of experiment (DOE) methodology is powerful techniques to reduce the number of replicates.Central Composite Design (CCD), Taguchi and Box-Bohen (BBD) design have been widely used in engineering applications (Herrera et al. 2015, Jacob and Banerjee 2016, López et al. 2016).These techniques are ideal to have an effi cient and effective the experimental design with lower cost.A study was carried out by Carrano et al. (2002) Maderas.Ciencia y tecnología 19(4): 407 -416, 2017 Optimization of sanding parameters..: Hazir et al. investigated sanding process of hard maple, white oak and eastern white pine as function of spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, grit size, tooling resilience and grain orientation.The results showed the grit size, tooling resilience and grain orientation to be signifi cant for all species.Feed rate was found as a signifi cant factor for white oak and eastern white pine.Aslan et al. (2008) also evaluated infl uence of sanding direction, grit size and number of sanding blades in overall surface roughness of Toros cedar (Cedrus libani).According to the results of this study, it was determined that the cutting direction and fi nishing techniques affected the surface roughness of the specimens.The samples had smoother surfaces with increasing the grit number of the abrasive increases.Sulaiman et al. (2009) investigated the effect of sanding parameters on the surface roughness of Rubberwood (Hevea brasilinsis).Results showed the samples had better surfaces quality with increasing the grit number of abrasive.Varanda et al. (2010) reported that sanding process parameters such as belt speed and grit sizes were effective on the surface quality of Eucalyptus grandis wood.It was found that smaller abrasive grains revealed better surface roughness of the samples.The optimum surface roughness value of sanded kembang semangkok (Scaphium spp.), red oak (Quercus spp.) and spruce (Picea spp.) studied by Tan et al. (2012).Samples were sanded using different grit size and feed rate.Infl uence of these parameters were examined by RSM and ANOVA.Effects of grit size, wood types and feed rate were found signifi cant factors.Sanding processing parameters were investigated and their effects on wood surface roughness were determined in various past studies.However, there is little as no information determining the optimum processing parameters for furniture industries.In this study, in contrast to these reported in literature a mathematical model was developed based on CCFC design and RSM method for solving the wood surface roughness problem.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
European black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) species are extensively used in the furniture industry and they were selected for the study.The samples were prepared with the dimension of 200 mm x 100 mm x 30 mm for each test.Density level of Black pine was measured randomly using 31 samples.Each sample was weighed and its dimensions were measured at an accuracy level of 0,1 g and 0,01 mm respectively.Samples were conditioned in a climate room having a temperature of 20°C and relative humidity of 65% until they reach a moisture content of 9±1%.The density of Black pine was measured as 680 kg/m³.

Machining conditions
The samples were processed with wide-belt sanding machine in an industrial environment for this purpose.The sanding treatment was wide belt sander equipped with open coat aluminum oxide abrasive paper.The review of literature indicates that the following four machining parameters are the most widespread among the researcher and operator to control the sanding process: feed rate (f, m/min), cutting speed (s, m/sec) grit size (p) and depth of cut (d).In this work, these were selected as design factors while other parameters such as belt tension of 3 kg/cm² and aluminum oxide sander paper type were taken as fi xed values.The samples with parallel orientations from each species were prepared using sanding machine.Roughness measurement device is a stylus-based portable profi lometer that is Sutronic-25 type equipment.Diamond stylus with a 5 µm radius and 90° of tip angle was employed for roughness measurement.According to ISO 4287, there are two accepted roughness parameters, namely average roughness (R a ) and mean peak to valley height (R z ).In this study, (R a ) calculated from digital information from the surface of sample was used to evaluate the surface quality of the samples.

Statistical design of experiment
Central composite face-centered (CCFC) experimental statistical designs was used to optimize the experimental procedure.The sanding factors were fi rst screened by ANOVA analysis and effective factors were determined by the response surface methodology (RSM).The experimental data were analyzed by multiple regression analysis through least square method.The regression coeffi cients of all terms including linear, quadratic and interaction.The model and their effect were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA).All the terms of model were tested and verifi ed statistically by F-test at probability levels (p<0,05).Adequacy of developed models was tested by performing (R²), adjusted coeffi cient of (R²-adj), normal probability plot (NPP) and residuals versus the fi t the values.3D surface plots were also used to determine the relationship between the independent variables and response.
Finally, optimum values of machining parameters to achieve the minimum surface roughness were determined by using desirability function and lingo optimization solver.

Response surface methodology (RSM)
RSM developed by Box and Draper (1987) is a collection of mathematical and statistical techniques.Central composite design (CCD) is an experimental design used to achieve determine optimum process parameters for a minimal number of experiments.In this study, composite face-centered (CCFC) design was used to determine the optimal conditions for feed rate, cutting speed, grit size and depth of cut.Selection of independent variables and their ranges, experiments were established based on a CCFC design with four factors at fi ve levels and each independent variable was coded at fi ve levels between (-2), (-1), ( 0), ( 1), ( 2).(Table 1) shows the number of parameters and their levels.The process parameters effects on performance around (5 4 ) 625 experiments are required, but using CCFC design 31 experiments are suffi cient.(Table 2) shows the experimental parameters and their recoded roughness values.A second-order polynomial equation was used in order to develop an empirical model which correlated the responses independent variables.The general form second order polynomial equation is: According to equation (1) Y is the predicted reaction or reactions (R a ), X i and X j are variables, β 0 a constant, β i β ii and β ij are respectively the fi rst, the second degree coded input parameters and parameter interactions of linear, quadratic and the second-order terms, respectively.Where k is the number of independent parameters (k=4 in this study) and ϵ is the error term.

Evaluation of the model
Normality assumption is verifi ed by applying the normal probability plot and histogram of residuals.From the Figure 1 (a, d), as the residuals generally fall on a straight line implying, the errors were resembled the normal distribution.Figures 1 (b, c) shows the residuals falling in a horizontal band with no systematic pattern.As result of the residuals no unusual structure is apparent.This implies that the models proposed are adequate and there are no reason to suspect any violation of the independence or constant variance assumption.

Surface graphs and analysis of the results
The interaction effect of process parameters on the surface roughness is discussed below.
(Figure 2a) shows the interaction plot between surface roughness and depth of cut with respect to grit size.From the fi gure, it can be seen that the grit size infl uencing on the effect on the surface roughness.As the grit size increases from 100 to 220, the surface roughness decreases.Moreover, it is found that the interaction effect between depth of cut and grit size played a signifi cant role.The inference can also be verifi ed from ANOVA as displayed in (Table 4).(Figure 2b) shows the interaction plot between surface roughness and feed rate with respect to grit size.From the fi gure, it can be seen that both feed rate and grit size are infl uencing on the effect of the surface roughness.As the grit size increase from 100 to 220, the surface roughness is increased Surface roughness was converged in all means from the maximum to a minimum value at the region of feed rate ranging from 5 to 10 m/min and grit size from 200 to 220.(Figure 2c) shows the interaction plot between surface roughness and grit size with respect to cutting speed.Surface roughness was decreased at the region of cutting speed ranging from 15 to 21 m/min and grit size from 200 to 220.(Figure 2d) shows the interaction plot between surface roughness and depth of cut with respect to cutting speed.According to the interaction plot, when the depth of cut was increased, the surface roughness was decreased.(Figure 3e) shows the interaction plot between surface roughness and feed rate with respect to depth of cut.It seems that both feed rate and depth of cut are infl uencing on the effect of the surface roughness.Also the lower feed rate had a greater infl uence on the surface roughness of the samples.If the depth of cut is increased, the surface roughness of the specimens also decreased.(Figure 2f) shows the interaction plot between surface roughness and feed rate with respect to cutting speed.From the Figure 2f, the surface roughness was not infl uenced by the interaction between the feed rate and cutting speed.( Where T symbolizes the target value of the i th response, i y , L symbolizes the acceptable lower limit value, U symbolizes the acceptable upper limit, for this response and ω represents the weight.From the analysis results shown in Figure 3 showed that the optimization value for (R a ) was obtained as 5,634 µm using Minitab software.
Within ranges of processing parameters, Optimal machining parameters for minimizing surface roughness was found with feed rate of 5,39 m/min, grit size of 100, cutting speed of 19,75 m/s and depth of cut of 9 mm.Moreover, the desirability value 1,000 for surface roughness of specimens where also such value can be seen as close to 1. LINGO is a mathematical optimization modeling technique using linear and non-linear optimization problems.In this study, the experimental data was used to build a mathematical model such as linear, linear interaction, linear square and second order model.Selected mathematical model was optimized using Lingo solver to fi nd the sanding conditions for minimizing the surface roughness.Feed rate, grit size, cutting speed and depth of cut values of 5,31 m/min, 220 p, 19,80 m/s and 9 mm were determined as global optimum sanding conditions resulting in minimum roughness 5,636 µm of Black pine samples.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.(a) Normal probability plot for standardized residuals (b) versus fi ts for standardize residuals (c) versus fi ts for standardize residuals (d) histogram of standardized residuals.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. The response 3D surface plots of R a according to change feed rate, grit size, cutting speed and depth of cut.Parameter optimizationThe desirability function technique is one of the most widely used engineering applications for the parameter optimization.According to this function, the measured quality characteristics of every predicted response is transformed to a dimensionless desirability value.The value of the function is ranges between 0 = d and 1 = d.The value of d increase as the desirability of corresponding response increases.In this work, the transformation of wood surface roughness value is selected smaller-the-better quality characteristic.Therefore, selected equation was given in Eq. (3):

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Response optimization plot for Black pine.

Table 1 .
Sanding procedure parameters and levels.

Table 2 .
Experimental parameters and the recorded roughness values.

Table 4 .
ANOVA for R a -Black pine.