Experimental Study to Assess the Effect of Electrode Bottom Profiles while Machining Inconel 718 through EDM Process

Publication date: 2014 Source:Procedia Materials Science, Volume 6 Author(s): M. Manohar , T. Selvaraj , D. Sivakumar , Shibu Gopinath , Koshy M. George Electrical Discharge machining (EDM) is a non-conventional machining process, in general adopted to produce components with complex profiles that are difficult to be achieved through conventional manufacturing processes. Since long, EDM is widely used in industries to machine ‘difficult to machine materials’ like HCHC steel (tool and die material). INCONEL 718 is one of the alloys that have relatively poor machinability in the conventional machining processes, due to its work-hardening nature, retention of high strength at high temperature (700 k) and low thermal conductivity. For Inconel alloy, EDM is a preferred material removal process due to its advantages like reduced machining stresses, lesser work-hardening effects and lesser metallurgical damage. While analysing the possible improvements in the EDM process, it was observed that the bottom surface profile of the electrode was contributing towards many aspects like Material Removal Rate (MRR), Electrode Wear Rate (EWR), surface roughness and surface integrity. Certainly such process improvements would contribute a lot in the shop-floor in terms of productivity and product-quality, while machining Inconel 718 alloy. To understand the effect of the electrode bottom profile and also its extent of influence on machining Inconel alloy, experimental study was car...
Source: Procedia Materials Science - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research