Experimental investigations on electrical discharge diamond peripheral surface grinding (EDDPSG) of hybrid metal matrix composite

Abstract

In this paper, authors have endeavored to develop an experimental setup of Electrical Discharge Diamond Peripheral Surface Grinding which is a configuration of Electrical Discharge Diamond Grinding process. The machining performance characteristics were experimentally studied using the developed experimental setup during machining of a challenging material Al/SiCp/B4Cp hybrid metal matrix composite. Gap current, on-time, off-time, abrasive grit number, speed of wheel, and table speed were input process parameters considered. The influence of input process parameters were experimentally investigated on material removal rate and surface roughness using one parameter at a time approach. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to study the surface texture and recast layers on machined surface. The surface finish is better achieved at a critical pulse off-time with appropriate declogging of diamond wheel. A specific abrasive grit size is suitable for better removal of thermal infested surface deteriorations with minimal marks of grinding traces. The presence of shallow craters and negligible thickness of recast layers on machined surface substantiate the potential capability and applicability of developed EDDPSG experimental system.