Int. J. Materials and Product Technology, Vol. 37, Nos. 1/2, 2010 117 Copyright © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Analysis and optimisation of cutting parameters for surface roughness in machining Al/SiC particulate composites by PCD tool K. Palanikumar* Sri Sairam Institute of Technology, Sai Leo Nagar, Chennai 600 044, India E-mail: palanikumar_k@yahoo.com *Corresponding author K. Shanmugam Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India E-mail: shanjohari@yahoo.co.in J. Paulo Davim Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Santiago, 380-193 Aveiro, Portugal Fax: +351 234 370953 E-mail: pdavim@ua.pt Abstract: Aluminium – silicon carbide reinforced metal matrix (Al/SiC-MMC) composite materials has tremendous application in automobile, aerospace and other industries due to their excellent properties. The machining of these materials are needed to obtain a near-nett shape. In the present work, an attempt has been made to model the surface roughness in machining of Al/SiC-MMC composites through Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Three factors central composite design is employed for carrying out this work. Analysis of variance is used for checking the validity of the model. Optimum machining condition for minimising the surface roughness is determined using desirability function approach. The influences of different parameters in machining Al/SiC particulate composite have been analysed in detail. Keywords: RSM; response surface method; turning; Al/SiC particulate composites; PCD tool; surface roughness. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Palanikumar, K., Shanmugam, K. and Paulo Davim, J. (2010) ‘Analysis and optimisation of cutting parameters for surface roughness in machining Al/SiC particulate composites by PCD tool’, Int. J. Materials and Product Technology, Vol. 37, Nos. 1/2, pp.117–128.