The application of fuzzy control strategy in servo feed control of wire electrical discharge machining

In this paper, a detailed discussion of the design of a fuzzy controller for servo feed control in wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is presented from the viewpoint of industrial application and implementation. The proposed controller contains two control loops. The main loop employs fuzzy logic as a rule-based control strategy for the gap voltage control. The output scaling factor of the fuzzy controller is on-line adjusted to obtain better control performance. A secondary loop is used to maintain machining stability bq adjusting the reference voltage. The developed control system is tested tinder the conditions of approach machining, rough machining, and cutting a workpiece with a center working path. Experimental results show the developed fuzzy control system is more feasible and effective for commercialised WEDM machines than a proportional controller.