The effect of magnesium content on drilling of Al-Mg-Ti alloy by hole electrical discharge machining process

This study presents an experimental investigation of small hole electrical discharge machining of Al-Mg-Ti alloys. A series of drilling operations were carried out for exploring the effect of magnesium content. Holes of 2 mm diameter and 15 mm depth were drilled using tubular single-hole rotary brass electrodes. The rates of material removal and electrode wear, surface roughness, overcut, average recast layer thickness, taper height and angle were studied for Al-Mg-Ti alloys contain 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 12%, and 14% Mg. The results show that the material removal rate is increasing with increasing Mg content while the rate of electrode wear is almost unchanged. Due to decreasing the melting temperature of the Al-Mg-Ti alloy with increasing Mg content, more metal melts and vaporizes during electrical discharge machining drilling. Therefore, more overcut and taper, thicker white layer, and rougher surfaces were measured for higher Mg content.