Process Capability Analysis of a Centre Lathe Turning Process

Abstract

A process capability study is performed for the turning process on a general purpose center lathe in order to verify the process performance and machine ability to perform within specified tolerance limit. The process and machine capability indices were measured to determine the process and machine adequacy for industrial application. The tolerance limits were obtained from the given nominal size of the shaft, using the basic hole system and 90 sample shafts were turned on the lathe machine to specification for varying spindle speed and feed rate of the lathe. Three (3) samples were randomly selected for the turning process of a combination of the spindle speed and feed rate as a subgroup size for a total subgroup of thirty (30). The diameters (representing the quality characteristics) were used to generate control charts and capability histogram for the process. The process is within statistical control but found incapable of meeting up to specification because the capability index ( C p ) measured was less than 1 and the machine capability for industrial application is not adequate.