Machinability of tool steels machined by electric-discharge machining

SKD11 has been a widely used tool steel for cold works many years while DC53 is intently developed to replace SKD11. In this paper, the machinability of these two steels was compared in terms material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear ratio (EWR), and arithmetic mean value roughness (Ra) specimen machined by electric-discharge machining. The machining variables involved were time peak current. made from copper alloy. Results show that both current had an influential effect on MRR, EWR, Ra steels. MRR significantly higher than caused EWR It found provided better surface finish DC53. Empirical models also presented paper.