Analysis of EDM drilling of porous SiC/Al-Mg composite

Abstract

Among the porous composite materials, the composite AlMg10 with 15% SiC is a material able to ensure a high corrosion resistance, strength, stiffness, lightweight, and wear resistance. The problem of the electrical discharge drilling of such a material was formulated. An experimental research aiming to highlight the influence exerted by the peak current intensity, servo voltage, pulse on time and pulse off time on material removal rate indicator was designed and developed. As an indicator concerning the material removal rate, the depth and the area of the cross sections through the holes obtained by electrical discharge drilling within a fractional factorial experiment were chosen. By mathematical processing of the experimental results, empirical mathematical models were determined. These models proved the significant influence exerted by the peak current intensity and servo voltage on the indicator of process productivity.