Optimization of Powder Mixed Electric Discharge Machining using ASTM A-105 Steel by Response Surface Methodology

The objective of this paper is to study the effect of the various process parameters i.e. peak current, noload voltage, pulse on time and duty cycle on response parameters by mixing silicon powder in the dielectric fluid of the Electric Discharge Machining (EDM). Response surface methodology (RSM) is used for investigating the effect on these parameters. Central composite design (CCD) is used for the estimation of the model coefficients of five factors, which are believed to influence the material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR) in powder mixed EDM (PMEDM) process. Experiments are conducted by using ASTM A-105 steel. The separable influence of individual machining parameters and the interaction between these parameters are also investigated by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). It is found that powder concentration along with peak current, no-load voltage, pulse-on time and duty cycle have significant effect on MRR and TWR.