13. Experimental Study for MRR and TWR on Machining of Inconel 718 using ZNC EDM

Manufacturing industries are widely using very hard materials like super alloys, composite material, etc., for various engineering applications. Machining of these materials is difficult by using conventional processes, which necessitate the make use of advanced material removal process such as electrodischarge machining. EDM is a thermal-based material removal process, in which repetitive electrical discharge between electrode tool and work piece tool causes melting and evaporation of material resulting in removal of material. By virtue of inherent principle, any conductive material irrespective of hardness can be machined with the EDM process. In present paper, experimental study on electrodischarge machining of Inconel 718 attempted using Taguchi approach. The effects of process parameters on material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR) are investigated. Peak current, pulses on time, pulses off time and gap voltage are the process parameters considered for experimental study. Pulse on time and current are observed to be the most significant factors, affecting MRR and TWR.