Title: Effect of EDM process parameters on surface quality of Al 6063 SiC_p metal matrix composite

Authors: Akshay Dvivedi, Pradeep Kumar, Inderdeep Singh

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, IMS Engineering College, Nh-24, Adhyatmik Nagar, Ghaziabad, 201 009, India. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, 247667, India. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, 247667, India

Abstract: Electric discharge machining (EDM) has been successfully used for processing of composites. EDM being a thermal process may result in poor surface quality. Better surface quality may be achieved by proper control of process parameters. This study reports investigation in EDM of Al 6063 SiC_p metal matrix composite for the obtained surface quality. White light interferometry is used to evaluate the surface quality in terms of roughness average (R_a) and root mean square average (R_q). Mathematical models are proposed herein for the modelling and analysis of the effects of machining parameters (pulse current, duty factor, gap, lift, sensitivity and flushing pressure) in the EDM process. These models are developed using the response surface methodology. Results have shown that the significant factors affecting the values of the Ra are pulse current, sensitivity and flushing pressure and for the R_q are pulse current, lift, and flushing pressure.

Keywords: surface roughness; EDM; electrical discharge machining; electro-discharge machining; aluminium; metal matrix composites; silicon carbide; RSM; response surface methodology; surface quality; mathematical modelling; pulse current; sensitivity; flushing pressure; lift.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2010.035843

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2010 Vol.39 No.3/4, pp.357 - 377

Published online: 05 Oct 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article