Enhancing the performance of electrical discharge machining using nanotechnology

Abstract

The electrical discharge machining (EDM) process is a nontraditional method utilized to manufacture complicated and hard materials with high electrical conductivity. Since the tool wear usually has a high influence on EDM performance, it leads to a substantial increase in product precision. Thus, it is important to conduct an experimental study intended to minimize the tool wear rate (TWR) while increasing the material removal rate (MRR). Presently, nanocomposite electrodes represent a new solution for the EDM process. These electrodes have the potential to improve the operational performance and economic efficiency of EDM technology. This study experimentally analyzed and evaluated the performance of copper and copper-nanographene electrodes in the EDM process. TWR and MRR were used as quality pointers in this study. The results of this work demonstrated a significant enhancement in EDM performance and in improving economic efficiency. The experimental results represent hardness improvement with 42%, electrical conductivity with 23%, and thermal conductivity with 30%. Experimentally the nanographene in EDM assisted in reducing the TWR by 14.34% and increasing MRR by 15.39%, moreover, the surface quality of the workpiece was improved too with coppernanographene electrodes in the EDM process.