Optimization of EDM Process Parameters with Aluminium-Fly Ash Composite using Taguchi method

Abstract

Aluminium based fly ash composites have gained huge popularity over the aluminum and its alloy. These aluminium based composites are being widely used in various applications such as automotive parts, machine cover, frames and ducts etc. Fly ash addition not only makes aluminium harder, stronger, stiffer and more wear resistant but also saves energy consumption and helps in cutting down green house emissions by utilizing almost freely available fly ash which is a waste of thermal power plant and problematic to dispose off.  Alfly ash composite is electrically conductive and can be processed by Electro Discharge Machining (EDM). Rough cutting operation in EDM is treated as a challenging one because improvement of more than one machining performance measures viz. metal removal rate (MRR), surface finish (SF) and tool wear are sought to obtain a precision work. Using Taguchi’s parameter design, significant machining parameters affecting the performance measures are identified as discharge current, pulse duration and dielectric flow. It has been observed that a combination of factors for optimization of each performance measure is different. In this study, the relationships between control factors and responses like MRR and SF have been established. 

Cite this Article Pankaj Kr Sharma, Shashi Prakash Dwivedi, Amit Kr Sharma et al. Optimization of EDM Process Parameters with Aluminium-Fly Ash Composite using Taguchi method. Trends in Mechanical Engineering & Technology. 2016; 6(3): 1–6p.