Process Parameters Optimization of Electrical Discharge Wire Cutting on AA6082/Fly Ash/Al2O3 Hybrid MMC Using Taguchi Method Coupled with Hybrid Approach

In this research investigation, optimization of electrical discharge wire cutting process parameters has been done on AA6082/fly ash/Al2O3 hybrid composite using the Taguchi method coupled with the Entropy-VIKOR approach. The AA6082/fly ash/Al2O3 hybrid composite was developed by using the stir casting process. The electrical discharge wire cutting experimentation on the developed aluminium hybrid metal matrix composite under varying conditions has been carried out using Taguchi orthogonal array L18 (21×33). The main objectives of this work are to maximize the cutting speed and minimize the wire wear ratio, kerf width and over cut. A Taguchi method coupled with hybrid approach was applied to determine the optimal electrical discharge wire cutting process parameters for better response measures. In this proposed approach, weightages for each response were calculated through the application of entropy method and then integrated with VIKOR approach for computing the VIKOR index. The VIKOR index was then analysed using the Taguchi method to determine the optimal level of factors at each process parameter. Eighteen experiments were conducted, and the optimal parameters were found and tested. The results revealed that the proposed method effectively improves the electrical discharge wire cutting performance on aluminium hybrid metal matrix composite. © 2021, The Institution of Engineers (India).