EDM CHARACTERISTICS OF 15 AND 35 VOL SiCp/Al METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

摘要

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) performance of a spin cast 15-35 vol% SiC particulate reinforced AI359 metal matrix composite (MMC) was investigated. The test conditions were determined to identify the effect of the machining parameters on the machining performance and machined quality. Some aspects of material removal mechanism, material removal rate (MRR), tool wear, and subsequent hole quality of the SiC_p/Al MMC were investigated using surface profilometry, coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The material removal rate increases with increasing peak current and pulse on-time up to the optimal points and drops down. Higher peak current and/or pulse on-time leads to the larger tool wear, and the pulse on-time is appeared to be more dominant factor for the tool wear.