Current Research Trends in Wire Electrical Discharge Machining: An Overview

Abstract

such as super alloys, composites and ceramics. These materials are hard and difficult to machine, and often poses impediments in smooth machining with traditional machining processes such as turning, milling, drilling and grinding. Non-traditional Machining techniques are being successfully utilized to machine such advanced materials. Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), a non-traditional machining process, cuts the stock by means of gap being burned through material by heat produced by electrical spark between the work piece and a wire which are immersed in a dielectric fluid, which acts as a coolant and flushes away the debris. WEDM meets the requirements of tooling and machining industries. WEDM is an indispensable machining technique for producing complicated cut outs through difficult to machine metals without using high cost grinding or cutting tools. Review of the published work on WEDM highlights that research is oriented on newer aspects of wire EDM in the field of analysis and optimisation. The mathematical models have been developed to predict material removal rate and surface finish while machining AISID2 tool steel at different machining conditions. A neural network model and simulated annealing algorithm have been formulated in order to predict and optimize the surface roughness and cutting velocity of the WEDM process in machining of SUS 304 stainless steel materials. The cutting speed and surface roughness of EDM process have been modelled through the response surface methodology and artificial neural networks (ANNs).