TECHNOLOGICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE OF THE SURFACE LAYER AND OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES OF MACHINE PARTS THROUGH EDM PROCESS

The problem of technological quality assurance and operational properties of the surface layer of machine parts through EDM process is viewed. Based on physics of EDM process, theoretical and experimental dependences for determining the parameters of the surface layer quality and the operational properties of machine parts on the modes (voltage, current and pulse duration) for various conditions (properties of dielectric fluid, physical and mechanical properties of the tool material and physical and mechanical properties of the workpiece material) of EDM process, are found. Studying these dependencies, it was also found that the formation of surface layer quality parameters and the service characteristics of machine parts are mainly influenced by modes under various conditions of EDM process. It was deemed that the formation of undulation and macro-deviations of the surface, in addition to the modes for various conditions of EDMing, is also influenced by the initial undulation and macro-deviations of both the workpiece and the tool, depending on the machining pattern. As a result, the relationship between quality parameters of the surface layer and the operational properties of machine parts depending on the modes of EDM process was found, the possibilities of EDMing of the quality parameters assurance for the surface layer and the operational properties of machine parts were determined. Obtained results allow us to determine the modes for various conditions of EDM process from scientific point of view. Either the required quality parameters of the surface layer or the required operational properties of machine parts determine different modes for various conditins of EDMing.. This will make the implementation of a single-stage approach in ensuring the required operational properties of machine parts by EDM process possible.

EDM process, geometric quality parameters, physical and mechanical quality parameters, wear intensity, endurance limit, corrosion rate, process modes and conditions