Comparison of Optimum Cutting Parameters in Machining Die Steel (EN 31) By using Gray Relational Analysis and TOPSIS

Manufacturing / production is undergoing various changes due to customer needs for quality, reliable, high hardness and impact resistance of the product. To meet such requirements manufacturers are make use of EDM machines. EDM are used to cut conductive metals of any hardness or that are difficult or impossible to cut with the traditional methods. The machines are also specialized in cutting complex contours or fragile geometries that would be difficult to be produced using conventional cutting methods. However, environmental impact due to release of toxic emissions aerosols during the process, poor operational safety due to fire hazard, electromagnetic radiation and non-bio degradable waste are the major problems concerned with conventional dielectric fluids (i.e. kerosene, hydro carbon, etc.,). To reduce the problems with conventional die electric fluids waste palm oil blended with kerosene is used. The objective of the present work was to investigate the effects of process parameters on the machining quality and to obtain optimal process parameters so that the quality of the machined parts can be optimized. The process parameters consider for the present work is current (I), voltage (V), pulse on (P on), and pulse off (P off) and responses are metal removal rate (MRR) surface roughness (Ra). Comparison of optimum values by using Gray Relational analysis(GRA) and TOPSIS.