Ignacio Puertas

Cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide (WC-Co) is widely used in heavy-duty machining applications due to its exceptional hardness and wear resistance, and it is increasingly being adopted in industries such as aerospace and the automotive sector, among others. Its superior mechanical properties make it difficult to machine with conventional methods such as turning or milling. Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) has emerged as an efficient alternative, as it allows for the machining of hard materials to be carried out without direct contact between the tool and the workpiece, provided that the material has sufficient electrical conductivity. In this study, a multilevel Design of Experiments (DOE) was conducted to analyze the influence of EDM parameters—specifically, the current intensity and pulse time—on the surface roughness (SR), electrode wear (EW), and material removal rate (MRR) for 94WC–6Co. The results indicate that the current intensity was the most significant factor across all responses, while the pulse time played a secondary role. Surface finishes as low as Ra = 0.47 μm were achieved at I = 2 A and t_i = 10 μs. For each outcome variable, mathematical models were obtained in order to improve the EDM processes and better understand the machining of WC-Co.

Today, the high-precision manufacturing of small cavities in difficult-to-machine materials is still a challenge, even more so if they need to be threaded. The machining time, the wear suffered by the electrodes and the surface finish are determining factors in the efficiency of the threading process. However, there is scant literature on this subject so there is a need to study the process and the parameters involved. Thus, this study presents a novel machining strategy for the manufacture of nuts using die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM). Moreover, the novelty of this strategy is that it is carried out in a single stage and with a conventional EDM generator. To do so, a design of experiments (DOE) methodology has been followed. First, the optimal machining conditions are determined by studying the influence of EDM parameters on operation variables and mathematical models are developed using multiple linear regression. These models allow the behavior of the response variables under study to be predicted. Finally, this machining strategy developed from the previous experimental results is validated in the manufacturing process of a final part, specifically a square nut. It can be concluded that the mathematical model is good enough to predict the experimental results. Thus, the new method presented and described in this present study allowed a nut to be obtained with a real arithmetic mean deviation of the roughness profile (Ra) value of 1.27 μm whereas the predicted value from the model was 1.28 μm. To do so, the machining conditions selected were: 4 A (current intensity), 5 µs (pulse time) and 0.4 (duty cycle), which also gave a material removal rate (MRR) value of 0.5370 mm³/min. The machining strategy proposed here may be used for future research works related to the manufacturing of mechanical joints made of conductive ceramic materials.

Today, there is a growing demand for efficient hole manufacturing technology in many industries such as aeronautics, automotive and nuclear, among others. Thus, the present study deals with the machining of through holes on SiSiC advanced ceramic by using Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) drilling technology. Since recommendations related to the electrode characteristics and settings parameters are found to be scant for the industrial use of EDM drilling of SiSiC ceramics, this research work comes to cover this gap as it presents a complete study focused on the influence on different electrodes under rough and finish machining conditions. In particular, the influence of four electrodes materials (copper, copper-tungsten, graphite and copper infiltrated graphite) and three different electrode diameters ranging from 2 to 4 mm are investigated. In addition, the rotational speed of the electrode is also analysed. From the experimental results, both electrode material and machining regime, seem to be the most relevant factors of all. In the case of 2 mm diameter electrode, material removal rate (MRR) with Cu electrode was, approximately, 4.5 times higher than that obtained with a C electrode. In fact, it was found that copper electrode rotating at 20 rpm combined with high values of discharge energy (I = 2 A; t_i = 70 µs) is the most economical option in terms of production cost and production time, as it gives a high MRR of 0.4754 mm³/min and a minimum electrode wear (EW) value of 7.52%. Moreover, slightly higher values of MRR were achieved for CuC electrode compared to those obtained with C electrode, indicating that the addition of Cu in the electrode contributes to a greater removal of material. However, a value of Ra of 0.37 µm could be obtained by setting low current intensity values (I = 0.5 A; t_i = 45 µs) combined with C electrodes and with no rotation.

In the present study, the wear behaviour of two aluminium alloys (AA-5754 and AA-5083) is analysed where these have been previously processed by severe plastic deformation (SPD) with equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). In order to achieve the objectives of this study, several disks made of these alloys are manufactured by isothermal forging from different initial states. The microstructures of the initial materials analysed in this study have different accumulated deformation levels. In order to compare the properties of the nanostructured materials with those which have not been ECAP-processed, several disks with a height of 6 mm and a diameter of 35 mm are manufactured from both aluminium alloys (that is, AA-5754 and AA-5083) isothermally forged at temperatures of 150 and 200 °C, respectively. These thus-manufactured disks are tested under a load of 0.6 kN, which is equivalent to a stress mean value of 18 MPa, and at a rotational speed of 200 rpm. In order to determine the wear values, the disks are weighed at the beginning, at 10,000 revolutions, at 50,000 revolutions and at 100,000 revolutions, and then the volume-loss values are calculated. This study was carried out using specific equipment, which may be considered to have a block-on-ring configuration, developed for testing in-service wear behaviour of mechanical components. From this, the wear coefficients for the two materials at different initial states are obtained. In addition, a comparison is made between the behaviour of the previously ECAP-processed aluminium alloys and those that are non-ECAP-processed. A methodology is proposed to determine wear coefficients for the aluminium alloys under consideration, which may be used to predict the wear behaviour. It is demonstrated that AA-5754 and AA-5083 aluminium alloys improve wear behaviour after the ECAP process compared to that obtained in non-ECAP-processed materials.

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes have attracted a great deal of both scientific and technological interest over the last few years as a consequence of the improvements that are possible to obtain in the microstructure and mechanical properties of the materials manufactured through the use of these kind of processes. However, the practical applications of such materials to obtain mechanical components are significantly fewer. As a direct consequence, the same thing has been observed in the development of studies that show the in-service behaviour of the mechanical components developed in this way. Since one of the industrial objectives of these SPD processes is to obtain functional parts, it is necessary to carry out studies to fill this gap. Therefore, in this study, an analysis of the wear that cams undergo when manufactured from an AA5083 aluminium-magnesium alloy is carried out. The cams were isothermally-forged from materials with and without previous SPD processing by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Subsequently, the wear behaviour of these cams was analysed by using specific equipment, which may have been considered to have a block-on-ring configuration, developed for testing in-service wear behaviour of mechanical parts. From this comparative wear study with cams, it is shown that previously-processed materials by ECAP have a better wear performance. Moreover, finite element modelling (FEM) simulations were also included to predict wear in the cams processed in this way. A good agreement between FEM and experimental results was obtained. It is this aspect of performing the wear tests on functional and real mechanical components, and not on laboratory samples, which makes this present research work novel.

Over the last few years there has been an increasing interest in the study and development of processes that make it possible to obtain ultra-fine grained materials. Although there exists a large number of published works related to the improvement of the mechanical properties in these materials, there are only a few studies that analyse their in-service behaviour (fatigue and wear). In order to bridge the gap, in this present work, the fatigue and wear results obtained for connecting rods manufactured by using two different aluminium alloys (AA5754 and AA5083) previously deformed by severe plastic deformation (SPD), using Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP), in order to obtain the ultrafine grain size in the processed materials are shown. For both aluminium alloys, two initial states were studied: annealed and ECAPed. The connecting rods were manufactured from the previously processed materials by using isothermal forging. Fatigue and wear experiments were carried out in order to characterize the in-service behaviour of the components. A comparative study of the results was made for both initial states of the materials. Furthermore, Finite Element Modelling (FEM) simulations were used in order to compare experimental results with those obtained from simulations. In addition, dimensional wear coefficients were found for each of the aluminium alloys and initial deformation states. This research work aims to progress the knowledge of the behaviour of components manufactured from ultrafine grain materials.

In this present research work, a new modelling of energy density in EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is proposed. Energy density can be defined as the amount of energy needed to get a unit volume of material removed, and for its modelling, the whole EDM process has been taken into account. This new definition lets us quantify the energy density that is being absorbed by the workpiece and the electrode. Results are compared to those obtained by die sinking EDM in an Inconel ^®600 alloy using Cu-C electrodes. Currently, this material is of great interest for industrial applications in the nuclear, aeronautical and chemical sectors, due to their combinations of good mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and extreme hardness at very high temperatures. The experimental results confirm that the use of negative polarity leads to a higher material removal rate, higher electrode wear and higher surface roughness. Moreover, the optimal condition to obtain a maximum MRR (Material Removal Rate) of 30.49 mm³/min was: 8 A, 100 µs and 0.6, respectively, for the current intensity, pulse time and duty cycle.

This present research work deals with the development of ultrafine grained cams obtained from previously ECAP (Equal Channel Angular Pressing)-processed material and manufactured by isothermal forging. The design and the manufacturing of the dies required for the isothermal forging of the cams are shown. Optimization techniques based on the combination of design of experiments, finite element and finite volume simulations are employed to develop the dies. A comparison is made between the mechanical properties obtained with the cams manufactured from material with no previous deformation and with those from previously SPD (Severe Plastic Deformation)-processed material. In addition, a comparative study between the experimental results and those obtained from the simulations is carried out. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to obtain ultrafine grained cams with an increase of 10.3% in the microhardness mean value as compared to that obtained from material with no previous deformation.

The most important difficulties when the behaviour of a part that is subjected to external mechanical forces is simulated deal with the determination of both the material thermo-mechanical properties and its boundary conditions. The accuracy of the results obtained from the simulation is directly related to the knowledge of the flow stress curve. Therefore, the determination of a material flow rule which is valid for both a wide temperature range and different initial deformation conditions in the starting material presents a great deal of interest when simulation results close to the experimental values are required to be obtained. In this present study, a novel flow stress curve is proposed that is able to accurately predict the behaviour of both materials with no previous accumulated strain and materials that have been previously subjected to severe plastic deformation processes. Moreover, it is possible to use it both for hot and cold working. The results are analysed in a wide test temperature range, which varies from room temperature to 300 °C, and from material previously processed by angular channel extrusion or with no previous strain accumulated. It is shown that the flow rule proposed is effective to model the material behaviour in a wide temperature range and it makes it possible to take the recrystallization phenomena that appear in previously deformed materials into account. In addition, the results obtained are compared with those predicted by other flow rules that exist in the prior literature. Furthermore, the study is complemented with finite element simulations and with a comparison between simulation and experimental results.