Optimization of Process Parameters of Wire-Cut Electric Discharge Machine Using Tungsten Die Tool Steel Using Taguchi Method

Wire-cut Electric Discharge Machine (WEDM) process is one of the most widely used non-traditional machining processes in current manufacturing. It involves the removal of metal by discharging an electrical current from a pulsating DC power supply across a thin inter-electrode gap between the tool and the work piece. It is most commonly used for machining hard and difficult to machine materials with very close tolerances. This work presents an investigation on effect and optimization of machining parameters for cutting speed, die width. Surface roughness, in wire electric discharge machining. Tungsten die tool steel is used for this research. It is commonly used for hot working dies and tooling such as die casting, extrusion and hot forming of parts. It has been observed that effect of each process parameter for optimization of each performance measure is different. MINITAB 15 software is also used to find the effect of each parameter on response characteristic and to predict the setting of control parameters.