Performance Analysis on Eco-friendly Machining of Ti6Al4V using Powder Mixed with Different Dielectrics in WEDM

Abstract

The recent scenario of modern manufacturing is tremendously improved in the sense of precision machining and abstaining from environmental pollution and hazard issues. In the present work, Ti6Al4V is machined through wire EDM (WEDM) process with powder mixed dielectric and analyzed the influence of input parameters and inherent hazard issues. WEDM has different parameters such as peak current, pulse on time, pulse off time, gap voltage, wire speed, wire tension and so on, as well as dielectrics with powder mixed. These are playing an essential role in WEDM performances to improve the process efficiency by developing the surface texture, microhardness, and metal removal rate. Even though the parameter’s influencing, the study of environmental effect in the WEDM process is very essential during the machining process due to the high emission of toxic vapour by the high discharge energy. In the present study, three different dielectric fluids were used, including deionised water, kerosene, and surfactant added deionised water and analysed the data by taking one factor at a time (OFAT) approach. From this study, it is established that dielectric types and powder significantly improve performances with proper set of machining parameters and find out the risk factor associated with the PMWEDM process.