Title: An experimental study of the machining parameters in powder mixed electric discharge machining of Al–10%SiC_P metal matrix composites

Authors: H.K. Kansal, Sehijpal Singh, Pradeep Kumar

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, SLIET, Longowal 148106, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.N.D. Engineering College, Ludhiana 147001, India. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, I.I.T. Roorkee 247667, India

Abstract: The aim of this present research is to establish optimum process conditions for Powder Mixed Electric Discharge Machining (PMEDM) of Al–10%SiC_P Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) by an experimental investigation using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Aluminium powder was suspended into the dielectric fluid of Electric Discharge Machining (EDM). A modified powder mixed dielectric circulation system was developed in the laboratory for experimentation. Relationships are developed between various input process parameters (concentration of the added aluminium powder, peak current and pulse duration) and output characteristics (Machining Rate (MR), Surface Roughness (SR)). The obtained result allowed how to find the most important parameters and determine the optimal values that maximise the MR and minimise the SR. The recommended optimal process conditions have been verified by conducting confirmation experiments.

Keywords: powder mixed EDM; electric discharge machining; PMEDM; surface roughness; machining rate; process optimisation; metal matrix composites; MMC; electro-discharge machining; composites machining; response surface methodology; RSM; machining parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMM.2006.012349

International Journal of Machining and Machinability of Materials, 2006 Vol.1 No.4, pp.396 - 411

Published online: 06 Feb 2007 *

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