Manufacturing Technology Today

Tarun Nanda ¹, T. P. Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Mechanical Engg. Dept., Thapar University, Patiala, IN

Abstract

Small scale manufacturing industry (SSMI) is a very important sector of our economy. It contributes almost 40% of the gross industrial value added to the Indian economy and about 45% of the Indian exports. Small scale units offer high employment potential and have low capital-output and capital-labor ratios. These characteristics make small scale sector very significant in a capital scarce and labor abundant economy like India. Though there has been a conspicuous increase in the number of small scale units, industrial sickness in this sector has assumed very serious proportions. Many causes account for the sickness. The present work discusses the results of a survey conducted in 93 small scale industries. The main factors impairing the performance of machine tool, cutting tool and auto-component industry have been identified and discussed. The survey also analyzes the extent of government support to the industry in its technology development initiatives.

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Sanjeev Kumar ¹, T. P. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh-160012, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala-147004, Punjab, IN

Abstract

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is widely used for manufacturing plastics moulds, die casting dies and forging dies from hardened tool steels. The intrinsic nature of the process results in erosion of the tool material and some of it is found In the machined surface under specific machining conditions. Deliberate material transfer may be carried out by using either composite electrodes or by dispersing metallic powders in the dielectric. This paper describes the formation of plasma channel during EDM sparking and how it may be utilized for improving the surface properties of die steels by selective material deposition on the machined surface from the eroding electrode. The OHNS die steel work material has been machined using copper, copper-chromium and copper-tungsten electrodes under process parameters favouring high tool wear. The SEM and EDS analysis of the machined surfaces show alloying of parent material with copper, chromium and tungsten which result in the Improvement of surface properties such as wear resistance and strength at elevated temperatures.

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