Papers by Keyword: Gap Current

Abstract: Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is a advanced machine that can control electrical spark to erode metal on the workpiece. In manufacturing, EDM is used on hard material parts that are extremely difficult to machine by conventional machining processes. EDM system consists of a shaped tool and the work piece, which are connected to a power supply and placed in a dielectric fluid. EDM pulse power generator applies voltage and current pulses between the electrode and workpiece to generate sparks through the gap. To obtain the optimum metarial removal rate (MRR), a good alternative is to improve the gap voltage and gap current. A proposed solution to these issue is combining ultracapacitor bank to the main power supply circuit for EDM machines. The control feedback of this research is designed to make sure that the current on DC bus is maintained at current setting during the machining processes.

Abstract: Titanium is present in the earth’s crust at a level about 0.6% and is therefore the fourth most abundant structural metal after aluminum, iron, and magnesium. High strength, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance are the main properties that make titanium attractive for a variety of applications. The major application of the material is in the aerospace industry, both in airframes,engine components,steam turbine blades, superconductors, missiles etc. or corrosion resistance, for example marine services, chemical, petrochemical, electronics industry, biomedical instruments etc.In this study, wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is adopted in machining of commercially pure titanium (Grade-2). During experiments, parameters such as Pulse on time, Pulse off time, Peak current, Spark Gap set Voltage, Wire Feed and Wire Tension were changed to explore their effect on the cutting rate, gap current and surface roughness of the machined specimens. The ranges of process parameters for the experiments were decided on the basis of literature survey and the pilot experiments conducted using one factor at a time approach(OFTA). It is found that the intensity of the process energy does affect the cutting rate, gap current and surface roughness as well as, the wire speed, wire tension and dielectric fluid pressure not seeming to have much of an influence.