Experimental investigation and multi-objective optimization of wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) of 5083 aluminum alloy

The experimental analysis presented aims at the selection of the most optimal machining parameter combination for wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) of 5083 aluminum alloy. Based on the Taguchi experimental design (L9 orthogonal array) method, a series of experiments were performed by considering pulse-on time, pulse-off time, peak current and wire tension as input parameters. The surface roughness and cutting speed were considered responses. Based on the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, the influence of the input parameters on the responses was determined. The optimal machining parameters setting for the maximum cutting speed and minimum surface roughness were found using Taguchi methodology. Then, additive model was employed for prediction of all (34) possible machining combinations. Finally, a handy technology table has been reported using Pareto optimality approach.