Statistical evaluating the effect of the plasma process parameters on the material removal rate and the cutting edge radius sizes of carbide cutting inserts

Abstract The paper introduces an innovative method for rounding the edges of cemented carbide cutting tools using plasma discharges in an electrolyte. The aim of the article is to statistically evaluate the influence of the process parameters on the material removal rate (MRR) and the cutting edge radius sizes ( r β ). The measured data were analyzed in the software Minitab. From the results of the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) for material removal rate it is noticeable, that observed input process parameters (electrolyte concentration, temperature of the electrolyte and voltage) had a significant influence on measured responses. Specifically, MRR increases as the electrolyte concentration, voltage, and temperature of the electrolyte decrease. Similar to MRR and r β are significantly influenced by these process parameters. Specifically, the radius increases more rapidly with decreasing electrolyte concentration, voltage, and temperature of the electrolyte.