Optimisation of EDM Parameters for Cryogenically Treated EN31 Steel with Copper Tool

Abstract

EDM has been replacing drilling, milling, grinding, and other traditional machining operations and is now a well-established machining option in many manufacturing industries throughout the world and is capable of machining geometrically complex or hard material components, that are precise and difficult-to-machine such as heat-treated tool steels, composites, superalloys, ceramics, carbides, heat resistant steels, etc. During machining done over EDM machine, with the workpiece, even the tool wears out. This tool wear is not desired as it changes the tool geometry. To overcome this hurdle, cryogenic treatment is carried out for workpiece material before machining. This report presents the optimization of EDM process parameters such as pulse on-time (Ton), pulse off-time (Toff), and Current (I) to obtain the greatest material removal rate (MRR) and less surface roughness (Ra) of EN31 steel with copper as the working electrode for machining.