Machining of Carbon Epoxy Composite using High Speed Electrochemical Discharge Machining

Abstract

Though fiber reinforced composite products provide the possibility of making holes during moulding itself, many times machining of composites becomes unavoidable. The unconventional machining processes can be used effectively for such machining applications. Electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) method is a promising alternative method for drilling such composites. ECDM combines the action of electro chemical machining (ECM) and electro discharge machining (EDM). The ECDM performance parameters like material removal rate (MRR) and radial over cut (ROC) both are affected by the speed of tool rotation. In this process, high-speed tool rotation is used to improve the material removal rate and to reduce radial over cut for composite material. This paper discusses the effect of speed of tool rotation on the performance of ECDM. This study addresses the performance of drilling of carbon fiber-epoxy composites, in an ECDM process to study the effect of parameters like speed of tool rotation, feed rate, voltage, and electrolyte concentration and their effect on the process. The study can be useful to arrive at a suitable set of parameters in high speed ECDM.