Parametric Optimization on Electric Discharge Machine for MWCNT/Al6061 Composite

Electric discharge machining (EDM) processes have wide application in industries, especially in computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) environment. For Al6061-MWCNT composites, it is important to study productivity-based output parameters, especially material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR) for EDM. The objective of this chapter is to study the effect of selected input parameters, such as discharge current (I), pulse-on time (Ton), pulse-off time (Toff), and tool material, on output parameters, such as MRR and TWR, and to optimize such parameters. Taguchi design of experiments (L18 array) is used for the study and an analysis of variance is performed. Linear regression modeling is carried out using MINITAB-19 software and the results obtained indicate that I, Ton, and tool material have a significant effect on MRR and TWR.-->