Investigation of the Machining Performance of Neem Oil as a Dielectric Medium of EDM: A Sustainable Approach

Abstract

The Electric Discharge Machining is one of the popular non-traditional approaches which has huge utility in industrial sectors, mostly in die-making industries and as well as in bio-medical fields. But more power consumption, evolvement of unhygienic gases, development of non- biodegradable wastes, etc. are some curtail issues, which leads the poor sustainability of the EDM operation. In this approach, transesterified neem is introduced as a new and green dielectric medium of EDM, and its impacts on EDM responses are examined. Here, machining is carried out between 4 A to 10 A ranges of input current, 100 μ-sec to 200 μ-sec of pulse ON time and 10 μsec to 30 μ-sec of pulse OFF time using both kerosene and transesterified neem as a dielectric medium. The responses like MRR, surface roughness, and microscopic views of machined surfaces are analyzed to check the viability of transesterified neem as a dielectric medium of EDM.It is experimentally observed that transesterified neem as a dielectric medium ensured 6.2 % to 15.6 % more removal rate and 12.25 % to 15.45 % less surface roughness than kerosene.

Feasibility assessment of some alternative dielectric mediums for sustainable electrical discharge machining: a review work

“…Findings claimed that neem dielectric ensured 22% more MRR, 17% less SR, and better surface texture and consumed 3.8-25% less time to attain the projected MRR than kerosene. Moreover, EDX analysis confessed the presence of less immigrated particles (like Cu, C, and Zn from tool and dielectric) when neem dielectric was used [12].…”

“…But while using biofuels, the chance of this type of phenomenon to occur is quite less. These organic fuels release comparatively less unsaturated particles because of having shortest hydrocarbon chain [12]. b.…”

“…Das et al [12] performed the EDX analysis of the EDMed surface, which was machined using both neem and kerosene as dielectrics and observed the immigrated amount of different particles from tool and dielectric. It was noticed that the particles like carbon, copper, and zinc had been immigrated in both these dielectrics, but the percentile weight of immigrants was relatively less when neem was used as a dielectric.…”

Water-in-sunflower seed oil emulsion as a dielectric fluid for micro electrical discharge machining (µEDM)

“…The rate of removal of metal at varying hole lengths is taper conicity, or also can be termed a gap resistivity [28,29]. The taper conicity represents the drilled hole accuracy from start to the end, which is For EDM, it is a non-contact process which means there is no mechanical cutting involved while machining.…”

“…Vegetable oils are suggested as alternative dielectrics for EDM because of their non-toxic, easy bio-degradability, higher flash point, higher breakdown voltage and lower volatility [27]. DAS et al introduced transesterified neem as green dielectric fluid for EDM [28]. Further analysis shows that transesterified neem as a dielectric fluid certified 6.2% to 15.6% more removal rate and 12.25% to 15.45% lower surface roughness than kerosene [29].…”