Improvement of surface finish on SKD steel using electro-discharge machining with aluminum and surfactant added dielectric

Kun Ling Wu, Biing Hwa Yan, Fuang Yuan Huang, Shin Chang Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

184 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) process is widely used to process hard materials in the industry. Electrical discharge distribution effects can be achieved by the addition of Al powder in the dielectric. A fine surface roughness value of the workpiece is thus obtained. However, the electrostatic force among fine Al particles is found to agglomerate the Al powders in the dielectric. A surfactant can be adopted to separate the Al powder in the dielectric homogenously. A better surface even the mirror-like quality of the EDMed workpiece is thus desired. In the study, the effect of surfactant and Al powders added in the dielectric on the surface status of the workpiece after EDM is investigated. It is observed the best distribution effect is found when the concentrations of the Al powder and surfactant in the dielectric are 0.1 and 0.25 g/L, respectively. An optimal surface roughness (Ra) value of 0.172 μm is achieved under the following parameter - positive polarity, discharge current 0.3 A, pulse duration time 1.5 μs, open circuit potential 140 V, gap voltage 90 V and surfactant concentration 0.25 g/L. The surface roughness status of the workpiece has been improved up to 60% as compared to that EDMed under pure dielectric with high surface roughness Ra of 0.434 μm.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1195-1201
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture
Volume45
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2005

Keywords

  • Electrical discharging machining
  • Roughness
  • Surfactant

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