Thermal energy produced by discrete and random electric sparks in electric discharge machining (EDM) melts surface material. A portion of this molten material is removed and the remaining material resolidified by rapid cooling in a hydrocarbon oil. The effect of repeated heating and cooling of...

Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) is widely used for manufacturing complex metal parts. The machining parameters like dielectric fluid, electrode material, current, voltage and pulse rate during EDM are controlled to obtain desired Material Removal Rate (MRR), and it also affects the surface...

The aim of this study was to investigate the fatigue limit of the electric discharge machined aluminum alloy 2024 T6. Machining was performed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 A discharge current values while all other parameters were kept constant. The fatigue tests were performed on a four-point rotating bending machine at the frequency of 50 Hz and at ambient temperature. Fatigue limits at 10⁷ cycles were determined using staircase (up-and-down) method and the obtained data was analyzed statistically. For reference purposes, fatigue strength of the conventionally turned specimens was also found by the same technique. The EDM surface is characterized by its morphology, roughness, hardness, and thickness of the resolidified layer. The effects of discharge current values on these surface characterizing parameters and subsequent influence on fatigue limit have been discussed.

In this study the MRR (Material Removal Rate) of the aerospace grade (2024 T6) aluminum alloy 2024 T6 has been determined with copper electrode and kerosene oil is used as dielectric liquid. Discharge energy is controlled by electric current while keeping Pulse-ON time and Pulse-OFF time as constant. The characteristics of the EDMed (Electric Discharge Machined) surface are discussed. The sub-surface defect due to arcing has been explained. As the surface material of tool electrode and workpiece melts simultaneously and there are chances of the contamination of both surfaces by the contents of each other. Therefore, the EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) of the white layer and base material of the workpiece was performed by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) at the discharge currents of 3, 6 and 12 amperes. It was conformed that the contamination of the surface of the workpiece material occurred by carbon, copper and oxygen contents. The quantitative analysis of these contents with respect to the discharge current has been presented in this paper.