Experimental Investigation and Optimization of EDM Parameters During Machining of Al/B4C/Gr MMC

Aluminum metal matrix composite (AMMC) is very difficult to machine with the conventional machining process because of high tool wear rate and low surface finish. Electro discharge machining (EDM) is one of the most effective nontraditional machining processes for machining such material. This chapter highlights the effect of pulse current (I); gap voltage (V_g); spark on time (T_ON); and percentage of reinforcement on the material removal rate (MRR) during the machining of stir-casted AMMC with 3wt.% boron carbide (B₄C) and 7wt.% graphite (Gr), 5wt.% B₄C and 5wt.% Gr, and 7% B₄C and 3wt.% Gr reinforcement. An L9 orthogonal matrix was developed to conduct the research work. Adequacy and validity of the proposed experiments has been tested through the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of this study show the effect of the addition of B₄C and Gr reinforcement in Al-7075 on MRR and evaluate the optimum combination of input parameter to achieve the controlled EDM of the workpiece.