Evaluation of Surface Finish of Electrical Discharge Machined AISI 304 Stainless Steel with Various Pulse Generators

Abstract

The performance improvement in Electrical Discharge Machining process is a tedious one in materials and manufacturing processes especially in making of complex die and moulds. Due to non linear nature of this process, conventional pulse generators such as RC pulse generator and transistor pulse train generator cannot produce uniform energy distribution. Since RC pulse generator can produce smaller crater volume, it can make better surface finish than transistor pulse train generator crater size is influenced by the discharge current produced during the machining process. Due to its stochastic behavior, the discharge current is varied for every spark. The modified iso current pulse generator can produce uniform energy distribution with smaller crater size. In this study, EDM drilling experiments have been conducted on AISI 304 stainless steel with the RC pulse generator, Transistor pulse generator and iso energy pulse generator in electrical erosion process. The effects of these pulse generators on surface characterization have been evaluated and analyzed. From the evaluation results, it has been detected that the iso energy pulse generator has produced better surface structure than conventional pulse generators.