INVESTIGATION OF MACHINABILITY OF WELDED JOINTED HARDOX STEEL IN WEDM

Abstract

In this study machinibility of hardox steel plates (welded by plasma and Mag welding) was examined in WEDM. Two different ampere value and two different feed rate were determined for the two different welding types. Depending on these factors ,micro structures, micro hardnesses and resistivity/conductivity values (varying according to heat output) were obtained at the HAZ and WM zones. Then, each of the samples taken from both HAZ and WM zones were cut in the WEDM by using 2 levelled four different parameters. The purpose at this stage is to examine the cutting width (kerf) and surface roughness (Ra) values at the HAZ and WM zones with respect to varying micro structure, micro hardness and conductivity values. At the end of the study, the lowest kerf was obtained with the plasma welded samples whereas the lowest Ra values were obtained with the Mag welded samples . The samples at WM zone are in general are the ones welded by high conductivity sample Mag welding. Whereas in the HAZ zone the samples are the ones welded by high conductivity plasma welding.