A study on the machinability behaviour of Al6061-ZnO(p) metal matrix composite through wire-cut electro discharge machining using multi objective optimisation on the basis of ratio analysis

Abstract

Aluminium matrix composites are effective and qualified materials in the industrial domain. The presence of abrasive reinforcing particles and the conventional machining of these materials induces severe tool wear and poor surface finish. Wire-cut electro discharge machining is one of the best unconventional machining process for AMCs and it continues to rise at an accelerated rate. In this work, an attempt has been made to fabricate aluminium (A6061) reinforced zinc oxide particles by stir casting technique and determine the machinability behaviour of the sample. The process parameters regarded are pulse on time, voltage and wire feed rate and the measurable output parameters are metal removal rate and surface roughness. The experiments are carried through Taguchi's L9(33) orthogonal array as per design of experiment procedure. MOORA is one of the effective multi-objective optimisation methods to determine the best condition for machining on the basis of ratio analysis.