Parametric optimization of WEDM machining using TOPSIS

Abstract

Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) is an advanced non-conventional machining process specifically used for difficult to machine conducting materials such as, ceramics, nemonic alloys, heat treated tool steels, composites, carbides, super alloys, heat resistant steels etc. with high precision. The present study investigates the effect of the four process parameters viz. pulse on time, pulse off time, peak current and servo voltage on three response variables such as Surface Roughness (SR), Material Removal Rate (MRR), and Kerf Width (KW) while machining titanium alloys. Each parameter was set at three levels. Taguchi’s L9orthogonal array has been used for conducting the experiments. A technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach has been used to determine the optimal level of machining parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been conducted for investigating the effect of process parameters on overall machining performance. The effectiveness of proposed optimal condition is validated through the confirmation test.