钛合金TC4放电加工电极损耗研究

针对钛合金TC4在火花油中放电加工电极损耗大的问题,以蒸馏水和火花油为工作介质,进行了钛合金TC4的放电加工试验,分析比较了两者的电极绝对损耗量和相对损耗率的差异,并从加工波形和加工后电极的表面微观形貌及主要成分等几个方面研究了电极损耗机制。结果表明:蒸馏水的绝缘性较差,而流动性和冷却性好,消电离较充分,改善了极间状态,加工稳定,使加工效率大大提高;另外加工过程中产生的少量氧化钛和从工件飞溅的蚀除产物附着在电极表面,形成覆盖层,有效抑制了电极损耗。其电极绝对损耗与火花油加工时相差不大但相对损耗却大大降低。     

汽中电火花加工技术研究

提出了一种汽中电火花加工技术,其加工介质为水蒸汽,蒸汽由蒸汽发生器获得,经管状电极喷向工件.试验结果显示:一般情况下,材料去除率随放电电流、脉冲宽度的增大而增大,随脉冲间隔的增大而减小,但一味地增大脉冲宽度和减小脉冲间隔会造成电火花加工稳定性变差,从而降低材料去除率;汽中电火花加工技术的工具电极相对损耗率相对较低,受脉冲宽度、脉冲间隔影响小,但在大的放电电流下,电极相对损耗率会有所增加,且汽中电火花加工的工件附着物较少.     

电极超声复合混粉电火花加工TC4试验研究

为了提高电火花加工TC4合金的加工效率、表面质量,在混粉电火花加工的基础上设计了一套工具电极超声振动装置。以工件去除率MRR和表面粗糙度Ra为工艺指标设计了Box-Behnken试验,应用响应面法建立了加工参数与工艺指标之间的二次回归模型,分析了加工参数对工艺指标的影响;通过对比试验,得出电极超声振动使混粉电火花加工去除率平均值提高了29%;粗糙度Ra值降低22%。对去除率及表面粗糙度进行了多指标优化,参数最优组合为:电极直径为4mm,峰值为20A,脉冲间隔为39μs,铝粉浓度为15.3(g·L~(-1))。试验表明:在大脉冲环境下,电极超声混粉电火加工花仍能获得较好的表面质量。     

汽中电火花加工技术研究

提出了一种汽中电火花加工技术,其加工介质为水蒸汽,蒸汽由蒸汽发生器获得,经管状电极喷向工件。试验结果显示：一般情况下,材料去除率随放电电流、脉冲宽度的增大而增大,随脉冲间隔的增大而减小,但一味地增大脉冲宽度和减小脉冲间隔会造成电火花加工稳定性变差,从而降低材料去除率;汽中电火花加工技术的工具电极相对损耗率相对较低,受脉冲宽度、脉冲间隔影响小,但在大的放电电流下,电极相对损耗率会有所增加,且汽中电火花加工的工件附着物较少。
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混粉电火花加工Ti-6Al-4V钛合金表面强化研究

以石墨为工具电极,在精密电火花成型机床上进行混粉电火花加工,对Ti-6Al-4V钛合金表面进行强化处理。利用TR200手持式粗糙度仪对传统电火花加工和混粉电火花加工的表面进行粗糙度的测量,并利用SEM、XRD等研究混粉电火花加工参数对加工表面层的影响。在MMU-10G型摩擦磨损试验机上对基体表面、普通电火花加工工件及磁力搅拌混粉电火花加工工件表面进行摩擦磨损试验。磁力搅拌混粉电火花加工使得工件表面的粗糙度降低且随着峰值电流和脉冲宽度的增大而增大,提高了工件表面质量。随着峰值电流和脉冲宽度的增大强化层越均匀、致密性越好且强化层越厚。工件表面还生成了TiC硬质合金相使工件表面耐磨性得到提高,工件表面性能显著改善。混粉电火花加工后工件表面得到强化。     

TC4钛合金电火花小孔加工多目标优化试验研究

为提升电火花加工TC4钛合金的表面加工质量和加工效率,选取紫铜圆柱电极开展TC4钛合金电火花小孔加工试验,采用正交试验法,以电极相对损耗率、表面粗糙度、工件材料去除体积为工艺指标,分析峰值电流、维持电压、放电脉宽对工艺指标的影响重要性。采用RBF(Radial basis function)神经网络对已有试验数据进行训练,建立放电参数与工艺指标之间的数学预测模型。以该预测模型为适应度函数,将遗传算法与Skyline选择算法结合进行多目标优化仿真,得到最佳工艺指标,最后开展多目标优化验证试验。结果表明：当峰值电流为14 A、维持电压39 V/42 V、放电脉宽102μs/108μs时能够取得最优的加工结果,优化值与试验值误差较小。     

铜铬复合电极电火花小孔加工机理及试验研究

在电火花加工中,工具电极是一项非常重要的因素,电极材料的性能将影响电极的电火花加工性能（材料去除率、工具损耗率、工件表面质量等）。电火花加工用工具电极材料应满足高熔点、低热胀系数、良好的导电性能和力学性能等基本要求,从而在使用过程中具有较低的损耗率和抵抗变形的能力。此外,工具电极材料应使电火花加工过程稳定、生产率高、工具表面质量好,且电极材料本身易于加工、来源丰富及价格低廉。     

放电参数对短电弧铣削TC4加工性能影响的研究

短电弧加工技术(SEAM)是一种实现难加工导电材料高效去除的新型放电加工方法。采用不同电极材料,开展钛合金TC4短电弧铣削加工试验,探究在不同放电参数(电压、频率和占空比)下对加工过程中材料去除率(MRR)、相对电极相对损耗率(RTWR)的影响规律;并进一步分析工件宏微观形貌、元素变化及硬度测定。试验表明：影响MRR和RTWR的因素为脉冲电压>脉冲占空比>脉冲频率;紫铜电极具有高的材料去除率和好的表面质量;加工后表面存在重铸层、熔滴和微孔等结构;其表面显微硬度由重铸层向基体逐渐降低,并在距离工件表面深度90μm处趋于稳定。由此证明,金属电极材料更适合SEAM加工钛合金材料,这为后续SEAM加工钛合金零部件提供了理论依据。     

放电诱导可控烧蚀及电火花修整成形加工基础研究

提出一种新加工方法——放电诱导可控烧蚀及电火花修整成形加工(简称间歇烧蚀加工)。利用极间金属材料在高压氧气间歇通入阶段产生剧烈烧蚀并将蚀除产物吹离加工区域这一特性来实现材料的高效蚀除及较低电极相对损耗率的目的,且在氧气关闭阶段进行常规电火花加工以对表面进行修整,保证了加工表面精度及质量。与火花油、水中传统加工和持续烧蚀加工的试验对比表明:在相同电参数下,间歇烧蚀加工的材料去除率较传统火花油中的电火花加工提高了4.28倍,相对电极损耗率降低了72%。通过放电波形分析了间歇烧蚀的加工机理,并基于电极对的表面微观形貌和成分分析对其加工特点进行了研究。     

金刚石烧结电极放电烧蚀加工蚀除机理

为了提高电火花加工效率,采用内部随机分布金刚石颗粒的管状烧结磨头作为放电诱导烧蚀加工电极。首先利用烧结电极金属基体和钛合金材料产生电火花诱导放电,通过电极内部进气孔冲入助燃氧气,使材料表面产生电火花诱导烧蚀。其次利用电极中的金刚石颗粒在线修整烧蚀加工的氧化表面,提高烧蚀效率及表面质量。对钛合金TC4进行钻削试验,从高效烧蚀加工及金刚石颗粒修整作用两个过程分别对该加工方法的微观蚀除机理做了具体分析,并与常规电火花钻削、紫铜电极烧蚀钻削进行对比,分析了材料去除率、表面质量等指标。结果表明,在相同试验条件下,金刚石烧结电极的烧蚀加效率是常规电火花钻削加工的14.5倍,并获得了近似机械加工的表面质量。     

Investigation of emulsion for die sinking EDM

Machining fluid is a primary factor that affects the material removal rate, surface quality, and electrode wear of electrical discharge machining (EDM). Kerosene is the most commonly used working fluid in die sinking EDM, but it shows low ignition temperature and high volatility; if the improper operations are undertaken, it can cause conflagration. Using distilled water or pure water as the machining fluid in EDM, no fire hazard occurs, and the working environment is well; however, using distilled water or pure water as the machining fluid in EDM, the material removal rate of machining large surface is low, and the machine tool is easily eroded. Emulsion-1 and emulsion-2 used as working fluid in die sinking EDM are developed. The compositions of emulsion-1 and emulsion-2 are introduced. In comparison with kerosene, emulsion-1 and emulsion-2 used in EDM show high material removal rate, low surface roughness, high discharge gap, and good working environment. The electrode wear ratio in emulsion-1 is lower than that in kerosene. The electrode wear ratio in emulsion-2 is higher than that in kerosene. The effects of composition and concentration of emulsifier on the emulsion property and EDM performance have been investigated. The comparative tests of EDM performance with kerosene, emulsion-1, and emulsion-2 have been done.     

Electrical discharge machining in distilled water

The performances of kerosene and distilled water as the dielectric fluid in electrical discharge machining (EDM) were compared over the pulse energy range 0.72 – 288 mJ. Machining in distilled water resulted in a higher metal removal rate and a lower wear ratio than in kerosene when a high pulse energy range (72 – 288 mJ) was used. With distilled water, the machining accuracy was poor but the surface finish was better. Electron microprobe analysis revealed that the deposition of tool material (copper) on the work surface (high carbon steel) was low when machining took place in distilled water at a high pulse energy (288 mJ) and in kerosene at a low pulse energy (72 mJ). It is concluded that distilled water may be used as a dielectric fluid in EDM at a high pulse energy range.     

Sinking EDM in water-in-oil emulsion

In this paper, a new type of sinking electric discharge machining (EDM) dielectric–water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion is proposed, and the machining characteristics of W/O emulsion are investigated by comparing with that of kerosene. In the experiments, machining parameters such as the dielectric type, peak current, and pulse duration are changed to explore their effects on machining performance, including the material removal rate (MRR), relative electrode wear rate (REWR), and surface roughness. Experimental results revealed that W/O emulsion could be used as the dielectric fluid of sinking EDM and adopting long pulse duration and large peak current could lead to obtaining higher MRR than kerosene. Compared with kerosene, W/O emulsion is observed to cause lower carbon adhered to the electrode surface. Therefore, its REWR is higher. Statistics of the discharge waveform show that more stable discharge processes can be obtained by using W/O emulsion compared with kerosene. Furthermore, W/O emulsion is more economical and more environmentally friendly than kerosene, and it could be an alternative to kerosene in sinking EDM application.     

Feasibility study of micro-slit EDM machining using pure water

This study addresses micro-slit EDM machining feasibility using pure water as the dielectric fluid. Experimental results revealed that pure water could be used as a dielectric fluid and adopting negative polarity EDM machining could obtain high material removal rate (MRR), low electrode wear, small slit expansion, and little machined burr, compared to positive polarity machining. In comparing kerosene versus pure water, pure water was observed to cause low carbon adherence to the electrode surface. Also discharge energy does not decrease and the discharge processes are not interrupted. Therefore, MRR was higher, and related electrode wear ratio compared to kerosene use was lower. In a continual EDM with multi-slit machining, kerosene will cause carbon element adherence, creating an initially high MRR and electrode wear, with rapid decline. However, pure water will not cause carbon element adherence on the electrode surface, so MRR and electrode wear is always stable in this process.     

Assessing the effects of different dielectrics on environmentally conscious powder-mixed EDM of difficult-to-machine material (WC-Co)

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a well-known nontraditional manufacturing process to machine the difficult-to-machine (DTM) materials which have unique hardness properties. Researchers have successfully performed hybridization to improve this process by incorporating powders into the EDM process known as powder-mixed EDM process. This process drastically improves process efficiency by increasing material removal rate, micro-hardness, as well as reducing the tool wear rate and surface roughness. EDM also has some input parameters, including pulse-on time, dielectric levels and its type, current setting, flushing pressure, and so on, which have a significant effect on EDM performance. However, despite their positive influence, investigating the effects of these parameters on environmental conditions is necessary. Most studies demonstrate the use of kerosene oil as dielectric fluid. Nevertheless, in this work, the authors highlight the findings with respect to three different dielectric fluids, including kerosene oil, EDM oil, and distilled water using one-variable-at-a-time approach for machining as well as environmental aspects. The hazard and operability analysis is employed to identify the inherent safety factors associated with powder-mixed EDM of WC-Co.     

Comparative study of different dielectrics for micro-EDM performance during microhole machining of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

In microelectrodischarge machining (micro-EDM), dielectric plays an important role during machining operation. The machining characteristics are greatly influenced by the nature of dielectric used during micro-EDM machining. Present paper addresses the issues of micro-EDM utilizing different types of dielectrics such as kerosene, deionized water, boron carbide (B₄C) powder suspended kerosene, and deionized water to explore the influence of these dielectrics on the performance criteria such as material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), overcut, diameteral variance at entry and exit hole and surface integrity during machining of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). The experimental results revealed that MRR and TWR are higher using deionized water than kerosene. Also, when suspended particles, i.e., boron carbide-mixed dielectrics are used, MRR is found to increase with deionized water, but TWR decreases with kerosene dielectric. Further analysis is carried out with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, and it is found that the thickness of white layer is less on machined surface when deionized water is used as compared to kerosene. Also, a comparative study of machining time has been carried out for the four types of dielectrics at different machining parametric settings. Furthermore, the investigation on the machined surface integrity and wear on microtool tip have also been done in each type of the dielectrics with the help of SEM micrographs and optical photographs. Hence micro-EDM machining on Ti-6Al-4V work material with B₄C-mixed dielectrics is performed in the investigation and reported the performance criteria of the process. It can be concluded from the research investigation that there is a great influence of mixing of boron carbide additive in deionized water dielectrics for enhancing machining performance characteristics in micro-EDM during microhole generation on Ti-6Al-4V alloy.     

Research on the influence of dielectric characteristics on the EDM of titanium alloy

This study investigated the influences of dielectric characteristics, namely, electrical conductivity, oxidability, and viscosity on the electrical discharge machining (EDM) of titanium alloy. A new kind of compound dielectric with optimal processing effect was developed based on the identified effects. Comparative experiments on titanium alloy EDM in compound dielectric, distilled water, and kerosene were performed to analyze the difference in material removal rate (MRR), relative electrode wear ratio (REWR), and surface roughness (SR). The experimental results revealed that titanium alloy EDM in compound dielectric achieved the highest MRR, a lower REWR than that in kerosene, and better SR and fewer micro-cracks than that in distilled water.     

Study of the EDM performance to produce a stable process and surface modification

In this work, the effect of pulse current and pulse duration in die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM) on the machining characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V alloy is studied. The EDM characteristics, including the electrode wear ratio (EWR), the material removal rate (MRR), and the surface roughness (SR), are used to measure the effect of machining. An increase in the intensity of the pulse current from 2.5 to 5 A produces a slow increase in EWR, MRR, and SR. An increase in the intensity of the pulse current from 5 to 7 A produces a rapid increase in EWR, MRR, and SR. Control charts are basic and powerful tools for controlling statistical processes and are widely used to monitor manufacturing processes and ensure good EDM quality. EWR, MRR, and SR are normal distributions, and the regression curves for the data are straight lines. All of the data points vary randomly around the centerline, which follows the Shewhart criteria and shows that the EDM process and product performance are under control and stable over time. After EDM, the surface exhibits an irregular fused structure, with pinholes, micro voids, globule debris, and many damaged surfaces. Oxygen plasma etching and surface modification after EDM reduce these surface defects, so finer and flatter surfaces can be achieved. Moreover, fatigue life can be enhanced.     

Effect on crystalline structure of AISI M2 steel using tungsten–thorium electrode through MRR,EWR, and surface finish

To investigate on the crystalline structure of AISI M2 steel by using tungsten–thorium electrode in electrical discharge machining (EDM) process was studied. Furthermore, the investigation were carried out for finding the value of material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR) and surface roughness (SR) of tool steel material depending upon three variable input process parameters. On the basis of weight loss, the value of MRR and EWR were calculated at optimized process parameter. Subsequently, surface topography of the processed material were examined through different characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Optical surface profiler (OSP) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. In XRD study, broadening of the peak was observed which confirmed the change in material properties due to the homogeneous dispersion of the particles inside the matrix. Lowest surface roughness and MRR of 0.001208 mg/min was obtained. Minimum surface roughness was obtained 1.12 μm and 2.18427 nm by OSP and AFM study, respectively. Also, minimum EWR was found as 0.013986 mg/min.