Experimental study on the machining of a shaped hole in Ni-based super-heat-resistant alloy

This paper presents an experimental study on the machining methods for a shaped hole in Ni-based super-heat-resistant alloys Inconel 718 and Waspaloy. The feasibility of using milling or/and grinding as an alternative for the current EDM process to machine shaped holes is assessed by observing the wear and breakage of the cutting tools and grinder and analyzing the hole surface integrity and geometrical accuracy. The results show that the milling process of Inconel 718 and Waspaloy can produce shaped holes with an acceptable surface roughness and geometrical accuracy efficiently, after optimizing the cutting conditions.