Experimental study of electro discharge machining based on microgeometric charcteristics

Abstract

The roughness of the machined surface plays an extremely important role in the given process at electro discharge machining. A comparative study of the characteristic electrode materials (copper and graphite) of die-sink electro discharge machining (EDM) is accomplished in this paper based on the roughness of the machined surfaces and the material removal rate. The comparison is based on the different microgeometric characteristics of the machined surfaces, including the amplitude parameters of the surface roughness. The aim of the research is to answer with which tool material can be machined better surface quality. Based on the performed cutting experiments and the subsequent measurements, the graphite electrode (tool) shows more favourable properties based on both the efficiency of material removal and the roughness characteristics of the machined surfaces.