Evaluation of Surface Quality during Electrical Discharge Machining of Inconel 718 with Powder Metallurgy Electrodes

Abstract:

In recent years, researchers have reported powder metallurgy processed electrodes as alternative tooling for electrical discharge machining (EDM). The present experimental study evaluates the quality of machined surface during electrical discharge machining (EDM) of Inconel 718 alloy steel with powder metallurgy (PM) processed electrodes. The investigated process parameters were polarity, electrode type, peek current, pulse on time, duty cycle, gap voltage, retract distance and flushing pressure. The surface quality was measured in terms of surface roughness (Ra). An orthogonal array L₃₆ (2¹X 3⁷) based on Taguchi methodology was applied to plan and design experiments. Experimental data was statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and optimum condition was achieved for evaluation criteria. It was concluded that polarity, electrode type, peek current, have significant effect on surface quality and minimum Ra is obtained with CuW2080 electrode at minimum current and negative polarity. Deposition of tungsten with CuW2080 (80%W 20%Cu) electrode was confirmed by energy dispersion spectrum (EDS) of the machined surface.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 410)
• Pages: 245-248
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.410.245
• Online since: November 2011
• Authors: Naveen Beri, S. Maheshwari, C. Sharma
• Keywords: EDM, EDS, Powder Metallurgy Electrode, Surface Roughness (SR), Taguchi Methodology

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