Papers by Author: Ajay Batish

Abstract: The aim of this study were to evaluate the performance of PVD (TiAlN+TiN) and CVD (TiCN+Al₂O₃+TiN) coated inserts in end milling of EN–31 hardened die steel of 43±1 HRC during dry and MQL (Minimum quantity lubrication) machining. The experiments were conducted at a fixed feed rate, depth of cut and varying cutting speed to measure the effect of cutting speed on cutting force and tool wear of CVD and PVD-coated inserts. The performance of CVD and PVD-coated inserts under dry and MQL condition by measuring the tool wear and cutting force were compared. During cutting operation, it was noticed that PVD inserts provide less cutting force and tool wear as compared to the CVD inserts under both dry as well as the MQL condition because PVD inserts have a thin insert coating and CVD inserts have a thick insert coating, but PVD inserts experience catastrophic failure during cutting operation whereas CVD inserts have a capability for continuous machining under different machining. Tool wear has measured by SEM analysis. The result shows that MQL machining provides the optimum results as compared to the dry condition. MQL machining has the ability to work under high cutting speed. As the cutting speed increases the performance of dry machining was decreased, but in MQL machining, the performance of the inserts was increased with increases of cutting speed. MQL machining generates less cutting force on the cutting zone and reduces the tool wear which further increase the tool life.

Abstract: In the present study, the powder mixed EDM (PMEDM) process was simulated using FE approach to obtain simulated temperature profiles for estimating the crater dimensions and volume removed during formation of each crater. The craters formed in PMEDM process had higher diameter and shallow depth resulting in improved MRR and better surface finish. The addition of powder increased the amount of heat available at the workpiece between 20-25% as compared to conventional EDM process. The results were subsequently validated experimentally to compare the actual measurements with the simulation output. Predictor equations for crater radius and depth incorporating the significant factors were developed and also validated with the experimental results.

Abstract: Surface modifications using the powder mixed electric discharge machining (PMEDM) process has gained a lot of research interest in recent few years. The present paper investigates the material transfer from the powder suspended in dielectric, electrode and dielectric material for enhancing the surface properties measured in terms of the microhardness of the machined surface for two kinds of die steels (H11 and H13). Four different powder materials aluminium, copper, graphite and tungsten were mixed with dielectric during machining with three different dielectric materials namely kerosene, EDM oil and refined mineral oil. Other process parameters were varied at suitable levels. Maximum increase in microhardness was observed with addition of tungsten powder and with tungsten-copper electrode even at lower current. Current significantly affected the transfer mechanism of material on the machined surface but was dwarfed by the very significant affect of powder which had the largest contribution. A relative comparison of microhardness between deposited and non-deposited regions showed an increase of 37% for H11 and 56% for H13 due to addition of powder. The photomicrographs of the machined surface also supported the material transfer from powder, electrode as well as dielectric forming compounds that suitably improve the surface properties of H11 and H13 die steel.

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of electric discharge machining (EDM) process parameters and powder mixed in dielectric on surface properties of three die steel work materials; namely High Carbon High Chromium (HCHCr), EN 31 and Hot Die Steel (HDS). The mechanism of material deposition from the suspended powder and/or tool electrode is reported. Current emerged as the most significant factor affecting the microhardness along with powder mixed in the dielectric and electrode material. Amongst the two electrode materials, copper-tungsten along with tungsten powder had the best microhardness. Selected samples were analyzed for X-ray Diffraction (XRD) followed by microstructure analysis using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results showed significant material transfer from the electrode as well as powder either in free form or in compound form. It was concluded that surface modification of die steels can be done by incorporating simple modifications in the EDM set-up resulting in higher microhardness and superior wear resistance of the machined surface.