Experimental investigation of influence electrical discharge energy on the surface layer properties after EDM

Abstract

The modern industry looks for new technologies that lead to improving the durability of parts from difficult-to-cut materials. One of the main fields of study on manufacturing difficult-to-cut materials is using electrical discharge machining (EDM). In this work, the experimental investigation of the influence of discharge current and pulse time, which defines the discharge energy, on surface roughness and average white layer thickness, was carried out. The surface layers properties after machining have kay role in the durability of manufacturing parts. Conducted research indicates that an increase in current and pulse time leads to growing the diameter and power of the discharge channel. It's causing the generation of the roughness of greater height and distance between the individual vertices. The plasma stream generated as a result of electric discharges causes the melting and evaporation of the material locally, while micro streams of liquid metal "thrown" to the gap from craters re-solidify on the surface of the material. Experimental studies and their analysis indicate that the main factors influencing the surface topography and average thickness of the white layer after EDM is the discharge energy.