Improving Electrical Discharge Machined Surfaces Using Magnetic Abrasive Finishing

Abstract

A recast layer is invariably present on surfaces produced by electrical discharge machining (EDM). For some metals with high hardness, the recast layer may contain micro-cracks. This damaged layer can affect the service life of the parts produced by this method. This investigation demonstrates that magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process using unbonded magnetic abrasives (UMA), can improve the quality of EDM machined surfaces effectively. The UMA used herein is a mechanical mixture of steel grit and SiC abrasive. SKD11 tool steel was used as the workpiece. Experimental results show that the recast layer and micro-cracks on EDM machined surfaces can be completely removed and a new surface of roughness on the order of 0.04 μm Ra can be produced. Additionally, experiments using the Taguchi method and L₁₈ orthogonal array enable the determination of the optimum process conditions for improving the surface finish. Further, the significance of the control factors was identified with the assistance of analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the optimum combination of the process parameters was verified by conducting several confirmatory experiments.     

Improving Electrical Discharge Machined Surfaces Using Magnetic Abrasive Finishing

A recast layer is invariably present on surfaces produced by electrical discharge machining (EDM). For some metals with high hardness, the recast layer may contain micro-cracks. This damaged layer can affect the service life of the parts produced by this method. This investigation demonstrates that magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process using unbonded magnetic abrasives (UMA), can improve the quality of EDM machined surfaces effectively. The UMA used herein is a mechanical mixture of steel grit and SiC abrasive. SKD11 tool steel was used as the workpiece. Experimental results show that the recast layer and micro-cracks on EDM machined surfaces can be completely removed and a new surface of roughness on the order of 0.04 μm Ra can be produced. Additionally, experiments using the Taguchi method and L₁₈ orthogonal array enable the determination of the optimum process conditions for improving the surface finish. Further, the significance of the control factors was identified with the assistance of analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the optimum combination of the process parameters was verified by conducting several confirmatory experiments.     

Surface crack density and recast layer thickness analysis in WEDM process through response surface methodology

In this work, quantitative assessment of surface damage in terms of parameters like surface crack density and recast layer thickness in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process has been undertaken. The effect of processing conditions on crack formation is studied using scanning electron microscope. Surface crack density and recast layer thickness analysis in terms of machining parameters such as pulse on time, pulse off time, peak current, spark gap voltage significantly deteriorate the microstructure of machined samples, which produces the deeper, wider overlapping craters, pock marks, globules of debris and micro cracks. The microstructure analysis of WEDM surface was based upon the theory of electrical discharge phase and metallurgical physics. It is found that the pulse on time, pulse off time and peak current are the most dominating parameters for both surface crack density and recast layer thickness.     

ON THE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC ABRASIVE BRUSH

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) of alloy steel workpiece with unbounded magnetic abrasive particles (UMAPs) indicates that the surface finish in the range of nanometer can be achieved. Important controllable four process parameters have been identified which are as current to the electromagnet, machining gap, abrasive size (mesh number), and number of cycles. Experiments have been planned using design of experiments technique. Based upon the results of response surface methodology and analysis of variance (ANOVA), it is concluded that magnetic flux density that depends on current to the electromagnet and machining gap, is most influencing parameter followed by grain size and number of cycles. The surface roughness profile generated during the MAF process has been discussed. To understand the cutting mechanism of magnetic abrasive finishing process, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the machined surfaces have been carried out. The correlation between surface finish and material removal has also been established.     

ON THE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC ABRASIVE BRUSH

ABSTRACT

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) of alloy steel workpiece with unbounded magnetic abrasive particles (UMAPs) indicates that the surface finish in the range of nanometer can be achieved. Important controllable four process parameters have been identified which are as current to the electromagnet, machining gap, abrasive size (mesh number), and number of cycles. Experiments have been planned using design of experiments technique. Based upon the results of response surface methodology and analysis of variance (ANOVA), it is concluded that magnetic flux density that depends on current to the electromagnet and machining gap, is most influencing parameter followed by grain size and number of cycles. The surface roughness profile generated during the MAF process has been discussed. To understand the cutting mechanism of magnetic abrasive finishing process, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the machined surfaces have been carried out. The correlation between surface finish and material removal has also been established.     

砂轮约束磨粒喷射加工外圆表面创成机理及三维形貌

磨粒喷射精密光整加工是重要零件在磨削后进行去除表面缺陷层、降低粗糙度和波纹度为目的光整加工新工艺。试验在MB1332A外圆磨床上完成,加工试样为表面粗糙度0.6 m左右的45钢。加工表面形貌和微观几何参数分别用扫描电子显微镜和Micromesvre2表面轮廓仪测量。应用自相关函数对磨削加工表面和光整加工表面进行分析,并研究材料去除机理和微观表面形貌的创成机理。在楔形区游离磨粒获得能量对工件进行抛磨、滑擦、和微切削是材料去除机理的核心因素,磨料流体侧向挤出是均化和降低表面波纹度的主要因素。试验结果表明,试样表面从连续的方向一致的沟槽被随机不连续的微坑所代替,表面粗糙度明显得到改善。随着加工循环的增加,工件表面的粗糙度值由0.6 m下降到0.2 m左右。此外,光整加工可以获得各向同性网纹交错的表面,表面轮廓的支撑长度率提高,对工件的耐磨性有利。     

Multiagent-based scheduling optimization for Intelligent Manufacturing System

The magnetic pole is an important finishing tool in magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF). This study used finite element method to analyze magnetic field characteristics for three different magnetic poles such as solid cylindrical pole, hollow cylindrical pole, and hollow cylindrical pole with grooves design. The results showed that the hollow cylindrical with grooves can generate the better surface roughness in MAF. The operations were demonstrated using a permanent magnetic polishing mechanism installed at a CNC machining center. The operations were performed using Taguchi experimental design, considering the effects of magnetic field, pole rotational speed, feed rate, working gap, abrasive, and lubrication. The optimal parameter conditions was obtained after experimental data analysis, the quality surface roughness (R _max = 0.1 mm) which is similar to a mirror surface was obtained after confirmatory tests. The optimal parameter conditions for material removal weight were also obtained in MAF. The results showed that MAF technique can meet customer requirement and raise the value-added products simultaneously.     

Surface integrity study of WEDM with various wire electrodes: experiments and analysis

Abstract

Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is always significant for its high-precision machining. However, due to the generation of high discharge energy during machining, machined surfaces are often got distorted. These might be upgraded by choosing the correct tool with proper machining condition. The effects of the electrode materials and process parameters on different responses of WEDM like average surface roughness, recast layer thickness, and surface morphology are systematically examined here to enhance the knowledge of WEDM and its correlation with electrode property. The experiments have been carried out on one of the expensive steel namely Maraging steel 300 due to its applicability in tooling and aerospace industries. Plain brass wire, zinc-coated brass wire (ZCB), and silver-coated brass (SCB) wires are used as a tool electrode for analysis. Comparative experimental studies prove that among BW, ZCB, and SCB, the overall performance of SCB is commendable owing to the high-quality surface considering control parameters in low discharge energy level. However, the second-best performance is shown by ZCB.     

超声磁力复合研磨钛合金锥孔的试验研究

为了提高钛合金锥孔的研磨质量和研磨效率,提出了采用超声波振动辅助磁力研磨的复合加工方案。加工时,磨粒在磁场束缚下切削锥孔表面,并对其进行不断撞击,且因为磁场力、超声振动力和离心力等综合影响的原因,磨粒的切削轨迹呈现明显的多向性。针对钛合金锥孔,与传统磁力研磨法进行试验对比,并分析研磨后试件的材料去除量、表面粗糙度和表面形貌等来验证超声磁力复合研磨的效果。结果表明：超声磁力复合研磨加工效率得到提高;锥孔的材料去除量增加至1.6倍;研磨后锥孔平均表面粗糙度由原始的R_a1.23 μm降至R_a0.25 μm,下降率是传统工艺的1.3倍;试件表面的微波峰、凹坑和加工纹理均被去除,锥孔表面质量得到显著提高,且试件形状精度得到改善。     

砂轮约束磨粒喷射加工表面材料去除机理

基于磨粒特征尺寸与砂轮、工件间液膜厚度比值的变化研究了磨粒喷射光整加工的材料去除机理,建立了两体研磨及三体冲蚀单颗磨粒的材料去除模型和材料去除率模型。试验在MB1332A外圆磨床上完成,加工试样为Sa=06μm左右的45钢。加工表面形貌和微观几何参数分别用SEM和MICROMESVRE2表面轮廓仪测量,试验结果和材料去除模型相吻合。试样表面连续的方向一致的沟槽被随机不连续的微坑所代替,随着加工循环的增加,Sa值由06μm下降到02μm左右。此外,光整加工可以获得各向同性网纹交错的表面,表面轮廓的支撑长度率提高,对工件的耐磨性有利。      

AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF MAGNETIC ABRASIVES FINISHING OF PLANE SURFACES

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) uses magnetic force of very low magnitude applied on ferromagnetic abrasive particles to obtain very high level surface finish. The process has been investigated extensively in the finishing of cylindrical surfaces. This paper reports an experimental work on the analysis of surface roughness and material removal using response surface method in the MAF of plane surfaces. The surface finish was found to improve significantly with an increase in the grain size, relative size of abrasive particles vis-à-vis the iron particles, feed rate and current. The optimum parameter levels which gave better surface finish and the higher material removal were also obtained from this experimentation.     

Precision machining of high aspect-ratio rotational part with wire electro discharge machining

Precision and micro rotational parts are widely used in various industries, such as micro probes for medical instruments, contact pins for micro assembly applications, micro electrodes for micro Electrical discharge machining (μ-EDM) or micro Electro-chemical discharge machining (μ-ECDM). In this research, a uniform annular area layer by layer feeding strategy was proposed to fabricate high aspect ratio, small radii rotational components on a conventional Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) machine equipped with an auxiliary spindle. The uniform annular area layer by layer feeding strategy consisted of the roughing and finishing stages. First, the theoretical Material removal rate (MRR) and radial infeed rate for each layer were determined for the roughing stage, and the theoretical surface roughness, Rz in the finishing stage was researched. Then, a series of optimization experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of the parameters on MRR and the machined surface roughness. A group of pin electrodes were machined by applying this feed strategy with the optimized parameters, and the minimum diameter of the pin electrodes was 40 μm with an aspect-ratio of 60. Finally, micro electrodes for an injection nozzle were achieved with this novel process and a qualified injection nozzle for powder metallurgy was fabricated with the machined micro electrodes.

     

ABRASIVE-BASED NANO-FINISHING TECHNIQUES: AN OVERVIEW

The surface finishing techniques can be divided into two categories: traditional and advanced. To overcome some of the problems of traditional finishing techniques, hybridized processes have been evolved by the researchers. Some of the advanced finishing processes that have been reviewed are abrasive flow machining (AFM), magnetorheological finishing (MRF), magnetorheological abrasive flow finishing (MRAFF), magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF), chemo mechanical polishing (CMP), etc. Most of these processes have been developed in the recent past and they can be employed to produce optical, mechanical, and electronic components with micrometer or sub-micrometer form accuracy and surface roughness within nanometer range with hardly any surface defects. However for large size flat components, MAF seems to be the most suitable finishing process. In MAF, DC power supply is given to the electromagnet hence intermixing of ferromagnetic abrasive particles during the process does not take place and the worn out cutting edges keep interacting with the workpiece surface. As a result, the finishing rate is quite low. The use of pulsed DC power supply to the electromagnet results in pulsating flexible magnetic abrasive brush (P-FMAB), which substantially enhances the finishing rate. The on-line measurement of the forces has helped in understanding the mechanism of material removal during Static-FMAB (S-FMAB) and Pulsating-FMAB. The magnitude of normal magnetic force (originating indentations) in P-FMAB has been found to be dynamic in nature and substantially high in magnitude as compared to S-FMAB.     

磁力磨削Al_2O_3-TiO_2陶瓷涂层试验

采用磁力研磨技术进行Al_2O_3-TiO_2陶瓷涂层的精密加工,设计了平面陶瓷研磨的试验装置,通过研究磨粒粒度等参数对表面粗糙度的影响规律,得出精密加工的最优参数。     

Magnetic abrasive finishing of hardened AISI 52100 steel

Surface finish has a vital influence on functional properties such as wear resistance and power loss due to friction on most of the engineering components. Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is one of the advanced finishing process in which a surface is finished by removing the material in the form of microchips by abrasive particles in the presence of magnetic field in the finishing zone. In this study an electromagnet with four poles has been used which was found to give better performance in terms of achieving surface quality in lesser processing time. Voltage, mesh number, revolutions per minute (rpm) of electromagnet, and percentage weight of abrasives have been identified as important process parameters affecting surface roughness. The experiments were planned using response surface methodology and percentage change in surface roughness (??Ra) was considered as response. Analysis of experimental data showed that percentage change in surface roughness (??Ra) was highly influenced by mesh number followed by percentage weight of abrasives, rpm of electromagnet, and voltage. In this study, the least surface roughness value obtained was as low as 51?nm in 120?s processing time on a hardened AISI 52100 steel workpiece of 61 HRC hardness. In order to study the surface texture produced and to identify finishing mechanism, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were also conducted. Shearing and brittle fracture of small portion of peaks of grounded workpiece have been found to be finishing mechanisms during MAF of AISI 52100 steel.     

MACHINING OF SODA LIME GLASS USING ABRASIVE HOT AIR JET: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abrasive Jet Machining is becoming one of the most prominent machining techniques for glass and other brittle materials. In this article, an attempt has been made to combine abrasive and hot air to form an abrasive hot air jet. Abrasive hot air jet machining can be applied to various operations such as drilling, surface etching, grooving and micro finishing on the glass and its composites. The effect of air temperature on the material removal rate applied to the process of glass etching and grooving is discussed in this article. The roughness of machined surface is also analyzed. It is found that the Material Removal Rate (MRR) increases as the temperature of carrier media (air) is increased. The results have revealed that the roughness of machined surface is reduced by increasing temperature of carrier media. The mechanism of material removal rate has been discussed with aid of SEM micrographs.     

Effect of silicon particles on the rapidly resolidified layer of Al-Si alloys in the electro discharge machining process

The rapidly resolidified layer is formed by the re-solidification of residual molten materials on the machined surface during the electric discharge machining (EDM) process. This study adopts a range of 4–29 wt% to change the silicon content in Al-Si alloy specimens to clarify the effect of silicon particles including the content, area fraction and intercept length of primary silicon particles on the performance of the rapidly resolidified layer during the EDM process. The layer thickness, surface roughness and ridge density on the rapidly resolidified layer are considered in the performance evaluation and explored by experiment. Experimental results indicate that the EDMed surface has a continuous ridge appearance and the effect of silicon particles including the content, area fraction and intercept length of primary silicon particles has the advantage of more ridge density. The rapidly resolidified layer thickness and surface roughness on the EDMed surface tend to increase with increasing the content and area fraction of the silicon particles.     

Effect of a combined machining/burnishing tool on the roughness and mechanical properties

Burnishing is a cold working surface treatment process in which plastic deformation of surface irregularities occurs by exerting pressure through a very hard and a very smooth roller or ball on a surface to generate a uniform and work‐hardened surface. This treatment occurs generally after the machining process. In this study, a new combined machining/burnishing tool is designed and is fabricated. This tool allows for generating simultaneously the machining (turning) and the burnishing of the cylindrical surface using a turning machine. First, turned surfaces at different conditions, sketches, finishing and half finishing were performed using only the cutting tool. The evolutions of a surface roughness parameter and the technological time relative to every test condition have been investigated. Second, using the combined machining/burnishing tool at coarse conditions, the evolutions of the surface roughness and the technological time have been also investigated. A comparison among the parameters obtained under different machining conditions and those obtained using the combined machining/burnishing tool has been carried out. Moreover, the analyses of the layers obtained on the combined machined/burnished surface have shown that the burnishing process induces compressive residual stresses on the subsurface treated specimens. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New iron-based SiC spherical composite magnetic abrasive for magnetic abrasive finishing

SiC magnetic abrasive is used to polish surfaces of precise, complex parts which are hard, brittle and highly corrosion-resistant in magnetic abrasive finishing(MAF). Various techniques are employed to produce this magnetic abrasive, but few can meet production demands because they are usually time-consuming, complex with high cost, and the magnetic abrasives made by these techniques have irregular shape and low bonding strength that result in low processing efficiency and shorter service life. Therefore, an attempt is made by combining gas atomization and rapid solidification to fabricate a new iron-based SiC spherical composite magnetic abrasive. The experimental system to prepare this new magnetic abrasive is constructed according to the characteristics of gas atomization and rapid solidification process and the performance requirements of magnetic abrasive. The new iron-based SiC spherical composite magnetic abrasive is prepared successfully when the machining parameters and the composition proportion of the raw materials are controlled properly. Its morphology, microstructure, phase composition are characterized by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) analysis. The MAF tests on plate of mold steel S136 are carried out without grinding lubricant to assess the finishing performance and service life of this new SiC magnetic abrasive. The surface roughness(Ra) of the plate worked is rapidly reduced to 0.051 μm from an initial value of 0.372 μm within 5 min. The MAF test is carried on to find that the service life of this new SiC magnetic abrasive reaches to 155 min. The results indicate that this process presented is feasible to prepare the new SiC magnetic abrasive; and compared with previous magnetic abrasives, the new SiC spherical composite magnetic abrasive has excellent finishing performance, high processing efficiency and longer service life. The presented method to fabricate magnetic abrasive through gas atomization and rapid solidification presented can significantly improve the finishing performance and service life of magnetic abrasive, and provide a more practical approach for large-scale industrial production of magnetic abrasive.