Optimization of electrical discharge machining characteristics of WC/Co composites using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II)

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a process for shaping hard metals and forming deep and complex shaped holes by arc erosion in all types of electro conductive materials. In the present work, the effectiveness of the EDM process with tungsten carbide and cobalt composites is evaluated in terms of the material removal rate and the surface finish quality of the workpiece produced. The objective of this research is to study the influence of operating parameters of EDM such as pulse current, pulse on time, electrode rotation and flushing pressure on material removal rate and surface roughness. The experimental results are used to develop the statistical models based on second order polynomial equations for the different process characteristics. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) has been used to optimize the processing conditions. A non-dominated solution set has been obtained and reported.