Multi-response optimisation of surface texturing using artificial bee colony algorithm

Abstract

Determination of the optimal combination of process parameters plays a pivotal role in reducing manufacturing costs while enhancing rate of productivity and standard of quality of the product. This paper deals with fabrication of arrayed structures consisting of cylindrical pillars using reverse electro discharge machining (R-EDM) process, followed by optimisation of the process using artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm. The influence of various machining parameters such as peak current (Ip), pulse-on time (Ton) and flushing pressure (Fp) on multiple performance measures in R-EDM like material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR), taper and cylindricity error (CE) has been investigated using response surface methodology (RSM) based approach. In the course of this paper, the optimal parameters have been found to be Ip = 10 A; Ton = 179.091 µs; Fp = 0.2 kg/cm2. The fast convergence and the high degree of closeness with the experimental data under optimal condition establishes the efficiency and robustness of the algorithm.