WSEAS Transactions on Applied and Theoretical Mechanics
Print ISSN: 1991-8747, E-ISSN: 2224-3429
Volume 7, 2012
Study of Workpiece Thermal Profile in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) Process
Author: Ali Moarrefzadeh
Abstract: Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) removes metal with sparks. A shaped graphite or copper electrode is used to make a cavity that is the mirror image of the electrode, without direct contact with the workpiece. Sparks travel through a dielectric fluid, typically a light oil, at a controlled distance. EDM can machine cavities with thin walls and fine features, achieve difficult part geometry, produce burr-free parts, and is insensitive to workpiece hardness.The values of these parameters significantly affect such machining outputs as material removal rate and electrodes wear. In this paper, the mathematical relationships between input and output parameters of EDM are established using regression method and the best set of models is chosen. Genetic Algorithm is then used to optimally determine input parameters levels in order to obtain any desired set of outputs. Numerical simulation of process in ANSYS software an for gaining the thermal profile, the effect of parameter variation on temperature field and process optimization are done. The numerical results show the time-dependant distributions of arc pressure, current density, and heat transfer at the workpiece surface are different from presumed Gaussian distributions in previous models.