Experimental Study of White Layer Thickness and Hardness Reduction in EDM Using Flux Powder
Technological Innovation in Engineering Research Vol. 2,
16 May 2022
,
Page 163-170
https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/tier/v2/6134F
Abstract
In the mold manufacturing sector, the machining process utilizing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is extremely significant. On the sliced surface, however, there is always a disserved white layer. The white layer has been thinned or softened in various ways in order to make it easier to remove. Powder Mix EDM (PM-EDM) is a technique that involves mixing powder with a dielectric fluid. Powder fluxes from welding electrodes comprising a variety of organic and inorganic components were used in this investigation. Flux flakes are then crushed using a conventional blender. Refining the powder can be repeated until it reaches the desired grain diameter. The powder is selected with a maximum diameter of 40 µm, by sieving using a 400 mesh filter. With this filter a powder diameter \(\leq\) 37 \(\mu \mathrm{m}\) will be obtained. Then, it was tested using kerosene dielectric fluid mixed with the flux powder with concentrations of 0 g/l, 2g/l, 4g/l, 6g/l, 8g/l, 10g/l, and 20g/l. In addition, all machining parameters are constant with the expectation that the cutting result is only affected by flux concentration. White layer measurement results showed a decrease in thickness of 42% in the use of flux concentrations between 2% to 8%.
- Powder Mix-EDM
- powder fluxes
- welding electrodes
- organic
- inorganic