Open Access
Elemento de refrigeración de material cerámico electroconductor
(2024) Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
Elemento de refrigeración de material cerámico electroconductor que comprende un cuerpo (1) con al menos un orificio (2) pasante y/o al menos una ranura (3) pasante, configurados para el paso de un fluido de refrigeración, donde al menos un orificio (2) y/o la al menos una ranura (3) están fabricados mediante electroerosión por penetración sobre el cuerpo (1) de material cerámico electroconductor.
Open Access
A study on the EDM drilling of reaction-bonded silicon carbide using different electrode materials
(Springer, 2023) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Corres Sanz, Jesús María; Ingeniería; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
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; ti = 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; ti = 45 µs) combined with C electrodes and with no rotation.
Open Access
Filtro de material cerámico electroconductor
(2024) Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
La presente invención se refiere al desarrollo de componentes con cuerpos de materiales cerámicos conductores que presenten orificios pasantes y/o ranuras pasantes para su posterior aplicación como elementos de filtrado, mediante el empleo de procesos de electroerosión por penetración. Entre dichos materiales cerámicos se pueden citar: carburo de silicio infiltrado con silicio (SiSiC), carburo de boro (B{sub,4}C) y diboruro de titanio (TiB{sub,2}), entre otros. Por ello, mediante la presente invención, es posible disponer de componentes para aplicaciones de filtrado con las propiedades inherentes a los materiales cerámicos junto con la gran variedad de formas, precisión dimensional y buen acabado superficial que es posible obtener mediante los procesos de electroerosión. Una de sus aplicaciones de filtrado más destacables sería la fabricación de filtros resistentes a alta temperatura con geometría cilíndrica para el filtrado de líquidos altamente corrosivos e impurezas.
Open Access
Analytical modelling of energy density and optimization of the EDM machining parameters of Inconel 600
(MDPI, 2017) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
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.
Open Access
Spacing roughness parameters analysis on the EDM of Inconel (R) 600 alloy
(Elsevier, 2017) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
Many research studies may be found regarding the measurement of surface roughness parameters. Most of them are focused on amplitude parameters as they are the most commonly used in industry, while little research has been found on the spacing ones. Spacing roughness parameters measure the horizontal characteristics of the surface deviations. In this present study, the influence of current intensity, pulse time and duty cycle on spacing roughness parameters Sm and Pc has been analyzed. Design of experiments techniques are used in order to both model and predict the most influential factors by using a small number of experiments. Current intensity of 2 A, pulse time of 25 mu s and duty cycle of 0.5 are selected as the best machining conditions in order to obtain the lowest surface roughness.
Open Access
Optimization and modeling of ZrB2 ceramic processing by EDM for high-performance industrial applications
(Elsevier, 2025-04-11) Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
This study investigates the Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) of zirconium diboride (ZrB2), a novel conductive ceramic with exceptional properties, including high temperature resistance, excellent thermal conductivity, and remarkable hardness. These properties make ZrB2 highly suitable for extreme environments, such as aerospace and nuclear applications. To the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive studies have addressed the manufacturing of ZrB2 parts by EDM, positioning this research as a cutting-edge contribution. Two electrode materials, graphite (C) and copper-graphite (Cu–C), were used to analyze the material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (Ra) as functions of current intensity (I), pulse time (ti), and duty cycle (η). Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were used to model the response variables. While MLR was effective for MRR (R2 > 0.9), ANN outperformed it in predicting Ra, especially for Cu–C electrodes (R2 = 0.9366 vs. 0.3847 for MLR). Current intensity was the most influential parameter for MRR, while pulse time significantly affected Ra. Residual analysis confirmed ANN superior accuracy for Ra, with residuals below ±1 vs. ±2 for MLR. The study culminated in the successful EDM manufacture of a ZrB2 hexagonal nut, employing optimized parameters (I = 6 A, ti = 50 μs, η = 0.3, for the C electrode) derived using ANN models and particle swarm optimization. This result demonstrates the EDM process ability to produce high-precision components with complex geometries, showcasing its versatility and industrial potential. Therefore, this study broadens the understanding of ZrB2 machinability and expands its applications in advanced technologies.
Open Access
EDM machinability and surface roughness analysis of INCONEL 600 using graphite electrodes
(Springer, 2016) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
Open Access
Surface roughness analysis on the dry turning of an Al-Cu alloy
(Elsevier, 2015) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
Nowadays, surface finish has become an important indicator of quality and precision in manufacturing processes and it is considered one of the most important parameter in Industry. In this present study, the influence of different machining parameters on surface roughness has been analyzed. All these parameters have been studied in terms of depth of cut (ap), feed rate (F), cutting speed (Vc) and tool radius (R). A 2030-T4 aluminium alloy has been selected. Moreover, Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques have been used to predict the surface quality in advance and to select the optimal turning conditions. The experimental results revealed that for dry turning operations and for the amplitude parameters, the most significant factor was the interaction effect between the depth of cut and the feed rate. In addition, for facing operations, the feed rate turned out to be the most statistically influential factor of all the surface roughness parameters.
Open Access
EDM machinability and surface roughness analysis of TiB2 using copper electrodes
(Elsevier, 2017-01-05) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2
Titanium diboride (TiB2) is a sintered ceramic material which has a high industrial interest due to its excellent mechanical properties, such as immense hardness, elastic modulus, and abrasion resistance. Unlike most ceramics, this material can be machined by using an electrical discharge machining (EDM) process because of its good thermal and electrical conductivity. In this present study the applicability of an EDM process for manufacturing titanium diboride is analysed. To do that, the influence of EDM parameters is studied on three of the most important technological characteristics in EDM: material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear (EW) and surface roughness (Ra). Results confirm that the most influential factor on MRR and Ra is the current intensity whereas in the case of EW, it is the pulse time. Additionally, the control of these parameters allows technological tables to be obtained in order to determine the optimum operating conditions. Such technological tables exist for the case of steels but they do not exist for TiB2, in which the optimal conditions are to be determined experimentally.
Open Access
Spacing roughness parameters analysis on the EDM of TiB2
(Elsevier, 2017) Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
Titanium diboride (TiB2) is a novel sintered ceramic material which has attracted a great deal of interest because of its excellent mechanical properties, wear resistance and chemical resistance. At present, this ceramic is used in specialized applications in such areas as impact resistant armor, cutting tools, crucibles and wear resistant coatings. In this present research work, effects of current intensity, pulse time and duty cycle on the spacing roughness parameters Sm and Pc have been studied. In addition, statistical tools based on the design of experiments as well as multiple linear regression techniques have been used. Experimental results suggest that the optimal conditions to obtain a minimum Sm of 52.60 gm and a maximum Pc of 190.60 cm(-1) were: 2 A, 5 mu s and 0.4, respectively, for current intensity, pulse time and duty cycle.