Characteristics optimization of powder mixed electric discharge machining using titanium powder for die steel materials

Abstract

In the present study, four quality characteristics of the electrical discharge are simultaneously presented and optimized using titanium powder mixed electric discharge machining. The Taguchi method and the grey relational analysis are applied to the processing parameters to investigate the following: workpiece material, tool material, polarity, pulse-on time, current, pulse-off time, and powder concentration. The combination of the Taguchi method and grey relational analysis is applied to optimize simultaneously four quality characteristics of powder mixed electric discharge machining, including material removal rate, tool wear rate, surface roughness, and microhardness surface. Optimal results by the Taguchi–grey relational analysis show that both surface roughness and tool wear rate decrease, while both material removal rate and microhardness surface increase, respectively. This approach proves effective in terms of improving the processing efficiency of the study parameters. The results from both optimization calculations and experimentation demonstrate high accuracy and efficiency. Furthermore, powder mixed electric discharge machining has improved significantly. The concentration of titanium powder is the processing parameter with the strongest influence on the efficiency of powder mixed electric discharge machining.