Simultaneous Optimization of Multiple Quality Characteristics in Traveling Wire Electrochemical Spark Machining of Pyrex Glass

Abstract

A new way of promising hybrid process called as Traveling Wire Electrochemical Spark Machining (TW-ECSM) process which combines the characteristics of Electro-chemical Machining (ECM) and Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) and uses for machining of electrically non-conductive materials. In this paper the simultaneous optimization of multiple quality characteristics during TW-ECSM of Pyrex glass has been presented using Taguchi method (TM). The experiments were conducted using L27 orthogonal array (OA) considering five process parameters such as applied voltage, pulse on-time, pulse off-time, electrolyte concentration and wire feed velocity and two performance characteristics namely material removal rate (MRR) and kerf width (Kw). The purpose of analysis of variance (ANOVA) is to investigate which input process parameters significantly affect the performance characteristics. Experimental results have shown that machining performance in the TW-ECSM process can be improved effectively through this approach.