EFFECTS OF PROCESS PARAMETERS AND CRYOTREATED ELECTRODE ON THE RADIAL OVERCUT OF AISI 304 IN SiC POWDER MIXED EDM

摘要

Powder mixed electro discharge machining (PMEDM) is further advancement of conventional electro discharge machining (EDM) where the powder particles are suspended in the dielectric medium to enhance the machining rate as well as surface finish. Cryogenic treatment is introduced in this process for improving the tool life and cutting tool properties. In the present investigation, the characterization of the cryotreated tempered electrode was performed. An attempt has been made to study the effect of cryotreated double tempered electrode on the radial overcut (ROC) when SiC powder is mixed in the kerosene dielectric during electro discharge machining of AISI 304. The process performance has been evaluated by means of ROC when peak current, pulse on time, gap voltage, duty cycle and powder concentration are considered as process parameters and machining is performed by using tungsten carbide electrodes (untreated and double tempered electrodes). A regression analysis was performed to correlate the data between the response and the process parameters. Microstructural analysis was carried out on the machined surfaces. Least radial overcut was observed for conventional EDM as compared to powder mixed EDM. Cryotreated double tempered electrode significantly reduced the radial overcut than untreated electrode.