Abstract
The effect of discharge current and pulse duration during the electric discharge machining of Aluminum alloy 6061 T6 is studied using copper electrode with paraffin oil and distilled water as a dielectric medium. The electric discharge machined surface is characterized by surface roughness (Ra), crack intensity, and average white layer thickness (AWLT). The behavior of material removal rate (MRR) and electrode wear rate (EWR) is also considered under varying conditions of EDM. AWLT and surface roughness is found to be dependent on the orientation of surface, pulse current, pulse duration, dielectric medium and electrode material. A new method of AWLT and surface roughness measurement through optical microscope is described. The results of surface roughness by this method are verified by conventional roughness tester.
Keyword(s)
EDM, AWLT, Surface Roughness, Heat Affected Zone, MRR, Cracks Formation