A review of electrical discharge machining (EDM) and its optimization techniques

Abstract

Non-traditional machining processes replace outdated manufacturing processes for machining hard metal matrix composite materials. Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is a non-conventional process that carries out machining depending on the materials’ thermal conductivity, melting point and electric resistivity. Stainless steel is used to produce nearly half of the world’s production units, and this process ensures the machining of stainless steel effectively. Various EDM processes are used to carry out various machining processes, which otherwise would not have been possible by any other machining operation. This paper provides an insightful review of existing literature, focusing on the techniques and associated parameters. In particular, input parameters, such as peak current, pulse on time, and pulse off time, are studied, along with the effect of dielectrics against the output parameters, such as metal removal rate and surface rudeness. Researchers in the past intensely focus on tool wear ratio. From this review, it is evident that researchers emphasized the material removal rate, surface finish and marching efficiency of the process under consideration.Besides, it is concluded that researchers did not seem to emphasize on study of different optimization techniques in this regard.