Effect of Pulse-on-time on Machining Performance during WEDM of nano-TiO2 Dispersed Austenite Steel

Abstract

WEDM is a non-conventional machining process used to cut electrically conductive materials (irrespective of their hardness), which may be difficult to cut by the existing conventional machining processes. In the present work, machining of nano-TiO2 dispersed austenite steel prepared by spark plasma sintering method has been carried out by wire electro discharge machine (WEDM). The effect of WEDM process parameters mainly the pulse on time (TON) have been investigated on the machining performance i.e. cutting velocity or machining rate, surface roughness, kerf width and the white layer thickness for three different types of nano-TiO2 dispersed austenite steel sintered at 800, 900 and 1000 oC temperature respectively. The experimental results revealed that the TON has significant effect on the machining performance of the said nano-TiO2 dispersed austenite steel. It was also found that with the variation of sintering temperature during the processing of the alloy, machining performances i.e. machining rate, surface roughness, kerf width and the white layer thickness varying significantly.