Selection of non-traditional machining process: A distance based approach

With accelerating progress in the field of machining, use of newer and harder materials like titanium, stainless steel, high-strength temperature-resistant (HSTR) alloys and ceramics has become common and has resulted in a number of available Non-traditional machining (NTM) processes. With increased number of available options, the need arises to select the most efficient NTM process for machining a desired shape feature on a given material. This paper focuses on selection of NTM process based on hybridized `technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution´ (TOPSIS) and an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) expert system in which an AHP matrix is referred. The weights of this matrix are obtained from the process selection criteria. Further depending upon the weights obtained, the relative closeness of the NTM alternatives are evaluated using TOPSIS which shows that Electrochemical Machining(ECM) and Plasma arc Machining(PAM) are the best NTM processes and the worst NTM process is Electro Discharge Machining(EDM).