Abstract
A semi-empirical model of surface finish on work for various materials has been established by employing dimensional analysis based upon pertinent process parameters in the electrical discharge machining process. The parameters of the model, such as peak current, pulse duration, electric polarity, and properties of materials, have been initially screened by the design of experiment procedure. Then, they have been systematically analyzed and later verified by making use of the Taguchi method. A model based on dimensional analysis of the model parameters has been established for verification. In addition, the predictions based on the semi-empirical model with the best-fitting parameters by nonlinear optimization methods are in good agreement with the experimental verifications. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.