Comparative study of parametric effects on the performance of simple and powder mixed EDM using aluminium and graphite powder on Inconel X750 alloy

Abstract

In the present scenario, Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is one of the most entrenched non-conventional machining processes which are widely used in different manufacturing sectors worldwide. Generally, the conductive materials, which having geometrically complex shape and extremely difficult to machine by conventional machining processes are machined by EDM. The further improvement of the machining efficiency of this EDM process may be enhanced by using powder suspended dielectric fluid which is called Powder Mixed EDM (PMEDM) process. In this research work, an attempt has been made to analyze the comparative study of parametric effects on the performance characteristics like material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR) and surface roughness (SR) in terms of average value of roughness parameter (Ra) of simple (without powder) and powder mixed EDM using Aluminium (Al) and Graphite powder on Inconel X750 alloy by experimental investigation. Here, in our study, Peak current (Ip) pulse on time (Ton) and pulse off time (Toff) have been taken as the variable process parameters and concentration of powder (Cp) is taken as 6 g/l in all cases throughout the experimentation. From the experimental results, it has been observed that PMEDM gives lower MRR but better surface finish in comparison with conventional EDM technique (without powder). Also, it has been noticed that graphite powder mixed EDM is more effective for getting better surface finish of Inconel X750 alloy compared to Al mixed PMEDM process.