Fabrication and experimental investigation of magnetic field assisted powder mixed electrical discharge machining on machining of aluminum 6061 alloy

Abstract

Magnetic field assisted powder mixed electrical discharge machining is a hybrid machining process with suitable modification in electrical discharge machining combining the use of magnetic field and fine powder in the dielectric fluid. Aluminum 6061 alloy has found highly significance for the advanced industries like automotive, aerospace, electrical, marine, food processing and chemical due to good corrosion resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, ease of weldability. In this present work, magnetic field assisted powder mixed electrical discharge machining setup was fabricated and experiments were performed using one factor at a time approach for aluminum 6061 alloy. The individual effect of machining parameters namely, peak current, pulse on time, pulse off time, powder concentration and magnetic field on material removal rate and tool wear rate was investigated. The effect of peak current was found to be dominant on material removal rate and tool wear rate followed by pulse on time, powder concentration and magnetic field. Increase in material removal rate and tool wear rate was observed with increase in peak current, pulse on time and a decrease in pulse off time, whereas, for material removal rate increases and tool wear rate decreases up to the certain value and follow the reverse trend with an increase in powder concentration. Material removal rate was increased and tool wear rate was decreased with increase in magnetic field.