Selection of EDM Die Sinking Optimal Condition of Machine AISI L3 Tool Steel Material Using Ant Colony Optimization

Pemilihan Kondisi Optimal EDM Die Sinking bagi Memesin Bahan AISI L3 Tool Steel Menggunakan Ant Colony Optimization

Abstract

The leading use of tool steel material as cutting tool material because of the good qualities and economical in the production line. Besides, the common use of EDM Die Sinking of machine tool steel material makes machining preferred by the industry. Therefore, a study that correlates input-output parameters of EDM Die Sinking is urged to estimate the good quality machined tool steel workpiece such as optimization study. This study estimates the good qualities as the outputs, with the benefit of knowing the machining parameters. Therefore, this paper aims to optimize EDM Die Sinking input parameters by using the Ant Colony Optimization algorithm, an approach based on soft computing. This paper’s step begins with experimental data and mathematical model application, then running the algorithm to gain the minimum outputs and optimized inputs, and ends with evaluation and validation. The selected input parameters are Current, Pulse on time, and Pulse off time; and the outputs are Material Removal Rate, Electrode Wear Rate, and Surface Roughness. The comparative study is made based on other references, and the result finds that the proposed approach outperforms the result by 3D Response Surface, Tabu Search, Genetic Algorithm, and Particle Swarm Optimizations approaches applied in previous studies. Moreover, the predicted optimized input parameters suggest more economical production expenses, by running at a lower rate of current supply for having better outputs.