RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessing the effects of different dielectrics on environmentally conscious powder-mixed EDM of difficult-to-machine material (WC-Co)

  • Jagdeep SINGH ,
  • Rajiv Kumar SHARMA
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  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh-177005, India

Received date: 12 Jan 2016

Accepted date: 21 Mar 2016

Published date: 29 Nov 2016

Copyright

2016 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Abstract

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a well-known nontraditional manufacturing process to machine the difficult-to-machine (DTM) materials which have unique hardness properties. Researchers have successfully performed hybridization to improve this process by incorporating powders into the EDM process known as powder-mixed EDM process. This process drastically improves process efficiency by increasing material removal rate, micro-hardness, as well as reducing the tool wear rate and surface roughness. EDM also has some input parameters, including pulse-on time, dielectric levels and its type, current setting, flushing pressure, and so on, which have a significant effect on EDM performance. However, despite their positive influence, investigating the effects of these parameters on environmental conditions is necessary. Most studies demonstrate the use of kerosene oil as dielectric fluid. Nevertheless, in this work, the authors highlight the findings with respect to three different dielectric fluids, including kerosene oil, EDM oil, and distilled water using one-variable-at-a-time approach for machining as well as environmental aspects. The hazard and operability analysis is employed to identify the inherent safety factors associated with powder-mixed EDM of WC-Co.

Cite this article

Jagdeep SINGH , Rajiv Kumar SHARMA . Assessing the effects of different dielectrics on environmentally conscious powder-mixed EDM of difficult-to-machine material (WC-Co)[J]. Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering, 2016 , 11(4) : 374 -387 . DOI: 10.1007/s11465-016-0388-8

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