A new way of erosion-abrasion hybrid machining using slotted-diamond grinding wheel

Abstract

Machining of advanced engineering materials like super alloys, heat treated alloys, titanium and carbide alloys, metal matrix composites and ceramics are become challenge for manufacturing industries, while these materials are highly required in field of modern manufacturing. In this paper, a new way of erosion-abrasion hybrid machining (EAHM) process using slotted wheel has been presented for machining of the hard and brittle electrically conductive materials, which is developed by comprising the mechanical grinding with electrical discharge grinding (EDG) in such a way that both the processes happen alternately. The performance of proposed EAHM process has been tested on aluminium silicon carbide (Al/SiCp) composite and also compared with electrical discharge machining (EDM) and EDG in term of material removal rate (MRR) and average surface roughness (Ra). It has been found that EAHM gives higher MRR than EDM and EDG processes with better surface finish, when these processes are individually tested on the same material.