Mathematical modelling for electric discharge machining of aluminium-silicon carbide particulate composites

In this paper an attempt has been made to develop mathematical models for optimizing electric discharge machining (EDM) characteristics such as the metal removal rate (MRR), the tool wear rate (TWR) and the surface roughness (CLA value). The process parameters taken in to consideration were the current (I), the pulse duration (T) and the percent volume fraction of SiC (25 mu size) (V) present in LM25 aluminium matrix. A three level full factorial design was chosen for experimentation and mathematical models with linear, quadratic and interactive effects of the parameters chosen were developed. Finally the significance of the models were checked using the analysis of variance technique (ANOVA). The MRR was found to decrease with an increase in the percent volume of SiC, whereas the TWR and the surface roughness increase with an increase in the volume of SiC. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.