CUTTING PARAMETERS AND SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS OF WIRE EDM

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Dr., Ain Shams Univ., Faculty of Eng., Prod. and Design Dept.

2 Dr., M.T.C., Production Eng. and Management Dept.

3 Eng., M.T.C., Production Eng. and Management Dept.

Abstract

Electric discharge wire cutting (EDWC), or wire EDM, is a special form of electric discharge machining that uses a small diameter wire as an electrode to cut a narrow kerf in the workpiece. The cutting action in wire EDM is achieved by thermal energy resulting from electric discharge between the electrode wire and the workpiece. Computerized numerical control is used to control the workpiece or wire motion during cutting. The special features of wire EDM make it ideal for making components for stamping dies. It is often possible to fabricate punch and die in a single cut, as well as tools and parts with intricate outlines, such as lathe form tools, extrusion dies, and flat templates, which are made easily, regardless of hardness or toughness of the workpiece material. The wire EDM process has many parameters that affect the performance of the cutting operation, such as peak current value, pulse duration, time between sparks.. etc. The aim of the present paper is to introduce the study of the effect of the different cutting parameters on the performance of the operation. This study enables the selection of the proper wire EDM conditions leading to maximum metal removal rate with minimum surface roughness. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were also used to study Wire EDM subsurface layer characteristics.

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