MATEC Web of Conferences (Jan 2016)

Effect of Graphite Electrode to Surface’s Characteristic of EDM

  • Muttamara Apiwat,
  • Borwornkiatkaew Warunee,
  • Pronpijit Anuprong,
  • Nuanchom Songkran

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20167001002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 70
p. 01002

Abstract

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Electrical discharge machining process (EDM) is a process for removing material by the thermal of electrical discharge. Some of the melted and all of the evaporated material is then quenched and flushed away by dielectric liquid and the remaining melt recast on the finished surface. The recast layer is called as white layer. Beneath the recast layer, a heat affected zone is formed. The quality of an EDM product is usually evaluated in terms of its surface integrity, which is characterized by the surface roughness, existence of surface cracks and residual stresses. This paper presents a study of surface’s characteristics by EDM in de-ionized water due to decarbonisation. The machining tests were conducted on mild steel JIS grade SS400 with copper and graphite electrodes. The workpiece surfaces are analyzed by scanning electron microscope and XRD technique. The carbon transfers from graphite electrode to the white layer relating to martensitic phrase of recast layer.