Effect of cryotreated post tempered electrodes on EDM performance of AISI 304

Abstract

In the present investigation, a comparison study has been conducted to investigate the effect of process parameters and three different type of electrodes {untreated (UT), cryotreated single tempered (CT1) and cryotreated double tempered (CT2)} during electro discharge machining (EDM) operation. For this purpose, WC and AISI 304 stainless steel was used as electrode and work material. Peak current, pulse on time, duty cycle, gap voltage, and flushing pressure were considered as process parameters and performance characteristics were measured by means of tool wear rate (TWR), material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra). Microstructural analysis was conducted on the EDMed surfaces machined by UT, CT1 and CT2 electrodes. It is found from the investigation that UT electrode provides higher tool wear rate (TWR), material removal rate (MRR), and surface roughness (Ra) compare to cryotreated post tempered electrodes. Better surface quality has been achieved for EDMed surface machined by CT2 electrode compare to UT and CT1 electrodes.