Performance Evaluation of WEDM process of EN 31 using Multiple Electrode Material

Abstract

EDM is a thermal erosive advanced machining process used to erode material through many small-duration, periodic electrical discharges and large current densities between the workpiece and wire. In the present research work, an effort is made to evaluate the performance of Wire-Electrical Discharge Machining (W-EDM) by machining EN 31 steel using different electrode wires, namely Copper and Brass. EN 31 has good mechanical and corrosive properties, so they are widely used in various fields such as automobile, aerospace, agriculture tool etc. Experiments were designed with the help of Taguchi by considering the parameters such as Electrode type (Copper and Brass), Discharge Current, Ton and Toff. Experiments have been conducted to optimize the WEDM machining parameters in order to achieve the maximum MRR with minimum SR. It has been found that electrode material and discharge current were the significant factors affecting MRR and SR, respectively. Study shows that brass electrode has a higher MRR when compared with the copper electrode material.