Title: Determining optimum EDM parameters in drilling a small hole by Taguchi method

Authors: Ahmad Razlan Yusoff, Zakri Ghazalli, Hazami Che Hussain

Addresses: Manufacturing Focus Group, University Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Locked Bag 12, Kuantan, Pahang 25000, Malaysia. ' Manufacturing Focus Group, University Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Locked Bag 12, Kuantan, Pahang 25000, Malaysia. ' Manufacturing Focus Group, University Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Locked Bag 12, Kuantan, Pahang 25000, Malaysia

Abstract: Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) process uses electric sparks to generate high temperature and melts the workpiece material. In drilling process of EDM, electro thermal mechanism between electrode and workpiece creates a hole. The present study performs Taguchi method to search the optimal process parameters for high speed super drill machine that was used to make a small hole from aluminium material. An Orthogonal (OA) array, main effect, Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ration and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to investigate the hole size of the copper electrode of diameter 1.0 mm penetration. The optimum EDM hole process can be established through this method and the major parameters that effect the hole enlarge can be also detected and verified the effectiveness through experimental results.

Keywords: Taguchi methods; high speed drilling; optimisation; hole size; electrode wear; small holes; EDM; electro-discharge machining; electrical discharge machining; process parameters; aluminium; copper electrodes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2009.023952

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.17 No.4, pp.345 - 352

Published online: 22 Mar 2009 *

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