Machining Performance and Optimizing Machining Parameters of Al2O3-TiC Ceramics Using EDM Based on the Taguchi Method

Investigating machining performance of conductive ceramics (Al2O3+30vol% TiC) using electrical discharge machining (EDM) is the aim of this work. The EDM machining parameters such as machining polarity, peak current, auxiliary current with high voltage, pulse duration, no load voltage, and servo reference voltage were chosen to explore the effects on material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR), and surface roughness (SR). The L18 orthogonal array based on the Taguchi experimental method was adopted to determine EDM machining characteristics systemically, and the experimental data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Experimental results showed EDM is a feasible process to shape conductive ceramics, and relationships between machining characteristics and parameters were examined. Moreover, machining parameter optimal combination levels in machining conductive ceramics via EDM were also determined.