Title: Multi-performance optimisation in WEDM using Taguchi method embedded with utility concept

Authors: P.C. Padhi; S.S. Mahapatra; S.N. Yadav; D.K. Tripathy

Addresses: Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, B-25, CNI Complex, P.O.: Patia, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India ' Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, B-25, CNI Complex, P.O.: Patia, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India ' KIIT University, P.O.: KIIT, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India

Abstract: Traditional design of experiment approaches is suitable for single response problems. However, manufacturing industries need that products/processes must be evaluated based on the performance of several quality characteristics. In the present study, an investigation is made to simultaneously optimise two responses such as surface roughness and dimensional deviation in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) using utility concept coupled with Taguchi method. Experiments were conducted varying the process parameters namely pulse-on-time, pulse-off-time, wire feed, wire tension, spark gap, set voltage and servo feed. The machining parameter settings were determined using Taguchi's L27 orthogonal array. The individual surface roughness and dimensional deviation values are transformed into corresponding utility values. Individual utility values have been finally aggregated to compute overall utility degree which serves as representative objective function for optimisation using Taguchi method. The significance of the machining parameters is identified by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the confirmation test has been conducted to validate the results. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method effectively improves the machining performance of WEDM process.

Keywords: pulse-on-time; pulse-off-time; analysis of variance; ANOVA; surface roughness; dimensional deviation; multi-performance optimisation; WEDM; wire EDM; electrical discharge machining; electro-discharge machining; Taguchi methods; utility concept; surface quality; orthogonal arrays.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2014.057867

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2014 Vol.7 No.1, pp.50 - 70

Published online: 30 May 2014 *

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