Pongamia pinnata Plant Seed Oil as Dielectric Fluid for Electro Discharge Machining Process

Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) is a noticeable machining practice among created unconventional machining procedures for intricate, complex profiles in "hard to machine" materials, similar to heat-treated steels, composites, superalloys, ceramics, composites, carbides, and so on. In EDM, the material expulsion of the cathode is accomplished through precise controlled electric discharge (the spark), which transforms the metals of two electrodes into melt and vaporize, and due to the breakdown of the dielectric medium.  In this research work, the suitability of non-edible plant seed oils from Pongamia pinnata as a dielectric fluid in the EDM process was investigated. Also, the suitability of EDM oil as an alternate dielectric fluid for industrial application was studied. Electrode Wear Rate (EWR), Material Removal Rate (MRR), Surface Roughness (SR), and Tool Wear Rate (TWR) are the key performance features of EDM. The principal goal of EDM is to get higher MRR alongside accomplishing the sensibly good surface quality of the machined workpiece. The parameters that accomplish the most astounding MRR depend on the machining surface, which is related to the workpiece and tool. Dielectric is the most significant variable for obtaining excellent results for the above-stated key features. These investigations showed that Pongamia pinnata oil is a suitable dielectric media; the results are satisfactory comparing with that of EDM oil. The effect of topography of the workpiece and carbon particles dissolving is also checked with SEM analysis for any deviations on work surface.