Influence on EDM Surface with the Copper and Graphite Electrode According to the Discharge Energy

방전에너지에 따라 동전극과 흑연전극이 방전가공면에 미치는 영향

This study has been performed to inmvestigate MRR(metal removal rate), REW(relative electrode wear), surface roughness, heat transumutation layer and microhardness distribution in cross-section of the machined surface with various pulse-on duration and peak pulse current, using the copper and graphite electrode on the heat treated STD11 which is extensively used for metallic molding steel with the EDM. The results obtained are as follows; a) There exists critical pulse-on duration(If Ip equals 5A, .tau. on is 50 .mu. s) which shows the the maximum MRR in accordance with peak oulse current and the MRR decreases when the pulse-on duration exceeds the critical pulse-on during because of the abnormal electric discharge. b) Safe discharge is needed to make maximum of MRR and the metalic organization must be complicated for discharge induction. c) Graphite has much more benefits than copper electrode when rapid machining is done without electrode wear. d) The most external surface has the highest microhardness because of car- burizing from heat analysis of the dielectric fluid and the lower layar of the white covered layer has lower microhar dness than base matal because of softening.