Machining of Ti-6Al-4V biomedical alloy by WEDM: investigation and optimization of MRR and Rz using grey-harmony search
ISSN: 1708-5284
Article publication date: 25 August 2021
Issue publication date: 8 March 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimized setting of wire-cut electrical discharge machining (WEDM) parameters at which material removal rate (MRR) and mean roughness depth (Rz) set a compromise. The problem in the processing of Ti-6Al-4V by conventional processes is a high strength, high hardness, high tool wear. Due to which WEDM is adopted to machine Ti-6Al-4V biomedical alloy. Ti-6Al-4V alloy has a number of applications in the engineering and medical industries due to its high strength biocompatibility.
Design/methodology/approach
The effect of control factors (i.e. pulse on-time: Pon; pulse off-time: Poff; servo voltage: SV) on the MRR and Rz is investigated in the present research. The planning of experiments is done using a Taguchi-based L9 orthogonal array. The percentage influence of each factor on responses is also evaluated. The multi-objective optimization is done using the grey approach initially. After that, the results were also calculated using harmony search (HS). Therefore, a hybrid approach of grey and HS is used to find the optimized values of MRR and Rz.
Findings
The maximum value of grade calculated by grey-HS is 0.7879, while in the case of the experimental run the maximum value of grey grade is 0.7239. The optimized setting after improvisation at this grade value is Pon: 130 µs; Poff: 45 µs and SV: 70 V for MRR and Rz collectively. The validation of the suggested setting is completed by experimentation. The values of MRR and Rz are coming out to be 6.4 mm3/min and 13.84 µm, which represents improvised results after the implementation of the HS algorithm.
Originality/value
The integration of the grey approach with the HS principle in the manufacturing domain is yet to be explored. Therefore, in the present research hybrid approach of grey-HS is implemented in the manufacturing domain having applications in medical industries.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Authors are very thankful for the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory of Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana for the machining of Ti-6Al-7Nb. Authors are highly thankful to Dr. Anish Kumar to provide the assistance for understanding of SEM micrograph.
Citation
Sharma, N., Gupta, R.D., Khanna, R., Sharma, R.C. and Sharma, Y.K. (2023), "Machining of Ti-6Al-4V biomedical alloy by WEDM: investigation and optimization of MRR and Rz using grey-harmony search", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 221-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-05-2021-0278
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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