Novel EDM Thread Whirling Technique For Orthopedic Medical Screw Implant Application.

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

NOVEL EDM THREAD WHIRLING TECGHNIQUE FOR ORTHOPEDIC MEDICAL SCREW IMPLANT APPLICATION

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor Degree of Manufacturing Engineering

(Manufacturing Process)(Hons.)

by

MUHAMMAD FAQRUL REDUAN BIN ABDUL MAJID B 050910230

880224-02-5185

FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING 2013

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA TAJUK: Novel EDM Thread Whirling Technique for Orthopedic Medical Screw Implant Application

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2012/13 Semester2

Saya MUHAMMAD FAQRUL REDUAN BIN ABDUL MAJID

mengakumembenarkanLaporan PSM ini di simpan di Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut: 1. Laporan PSM adalah hak milik Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dan penulis. 2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dibenarkan membuat salinan

untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja dengan izin penulis.

3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan PSM ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.

4. **Silatandakan ( )

SULIT

TERHAD

TIDAK TERHAD

(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia sebagaimana yang termaktub dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS)

AlamatTetap:

Lot 44, Kg. Solok Bangsal, Pantai Belimbing, 76100

Durian Tunggal Melaka

Tarikh: 03 JUN 2013

Disahkanoleh:

(TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Cop Rasmi:

Tarikh: _______________________ ** Jika Laporan PSM ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh laporan PSM ini perlu di kelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD.

DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled “Novel EDM Thread Whirling Technique for Orthopedic Medical Screw Implant Application” is the results of my own research

except as cited in references.

Signature : ……….

Author’s Name : MUHAMMAD FAQRUL REDUAN BIN

ABDUL MAJID

APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering of UTeM as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering (Manufacturing Process) (Hons.). The member of the supervisory is as follow:

……… (Project Supervisor)

i

ABSTRACT

Due to the excellent combination of strength, low modulus and high corrosion resistance. Titanium alloys are increasingly used as biomaterials. Titanium is mainly used in orthopedic injury application, such as bone fracture which required screw fixation. However, the complicated geometrical design and tight tolerance of orthopedic screw limit its fabrication technique. Generally, high strength orthopedic screw were fabricated using single-point threading and thread whirling technique. However, there were few problem encounters by employing these techniques such as rapid tool wear, limited design flexibility, low accuracy and high capital cost. The suitable candidate to overcomes this problems is using electrical discharge machining process in which the material is removed by spark erosion. Since there is no physical contact between tool electrode and workpiece, the tool wear rate is low and the materials hardness is not dependent. In addition, the main advantages of using EDM technique are the accuracy and find surface integrity which is suitable for medical application. However, the selection of EDM as an alternative manufacturing technique for orthopedic screw required a scientific analytical justification of EDM capability compare to current techniques and propose a new EDM method for fabricating orthopedic screw. Three method are proposed and the performance of each method will be evaluated.

ii

ABSTRAK

Kerana gabungan cemerlang kekuatan, modulus yang rendah dan ketahanan kakisan yang tinggi. Aloi Titanium semakin digunakan sebagai bahan perubatan. Titanium digunakan terutamanya dalam aplikasi kecederaan ortopedik, seperti patah tulang yang memerlukan penetapan skru. Walau bagaimanapun, reka bentuk geometri yang rumit dan toleransi ketat skru ortopedik menghadkan teknik fabrikasi itu. Secara umumnya, kekuatan skru ortopedik telah direka menggunakan satu titik bebenang dan teknik berpusing benang. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat beberapa pernemuan masalah dengan menggunakan teknik-teknik seperti kaedah kakisan pantas, fleksibiliti reka bentuk terhad, ketepatan yang rendah dan kos modal yang tinggi. Kaedah yang sesuai untuk mengatasi masalah ini adalah dengan menggunakan mesin pelepasan elektrik proses di mana bahan yang dikeluarkan oleh hakisan percikan elektrik. Kerana tidak ada hubungan fizikal antara elektrod alat dan bahan kerja, kadar kakisan alat adalah rendah dan kekerasan bahan-bahan yang tidak bergantung. Di samping itu, kelebihan utama menggunakan teknik EDM adalah ketepatan dan mencari integriti permukaan yang sesuai untuk aplikasi perubatan. Walau

bagaimanapun, pemilihan EDM sebagai teknik pembuatan alternatif untuk skru ortopedik memerlukan justifikasi analisis saintifik keupayaan EDM berbanding dengan teknik-teknik semasa dan mencadangkan kaedah EDM baru untuk memasang skru ortopedik. Tiga kaedah yang dicadangkan dan prestasi setiap kaedah akan dinilai.

iii

DEDICATION

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A special thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Raja Izamshah Bin Raja Abdullah for this supervision in doing this project. I greatly appreciate his consistent encouragement, advice and invaluable guidance throughout the project.

I wish to extend my special appreciation to Mr. Hanafiah and Mr. Taufik as technicians for their patience, support and comment.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to my family member for their love, sacrifice, motivation and support in completing this project. Last but not least, I would like to thanks those who have contributed directly or indirectly toward the success of this project.

v

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstract i

Abstrak ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Content v

List of Tables viii

List of Figures ix

List of Abbreviations, Symbols & Nomenclature xi

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2 Orthopedic Medical 3

1.2.1 Material For Bone Screw 4

1.2.1.1 Titanium Alloys 4

1.2.2 Medical Implant Device From Titanium 5

1.3 Current Methods for Fabricating Titanium Screw 6

1.4 Objective 9

1.5 Scope of Project 9

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.1 Titanium 10

2.2 Bone Screw 11

2.2.1 Parameter of Bone Screw 12

2.3 Related Work on EDMing Titanium 13

2.4 EDM Parameter (Recommendation) 16

2.5 Summary of The Chapter 17

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 18

vi

3.1.1 Framework 19

3.2 Product Design (CAD) 20

3.3 Fabricate Electrode 21

3.3.1 Method A : Machining 22

3.3.1.1 Electrode Design (CAD) 22

3.3.1.2 Electrode Manufacture (CAM) 23

3.3.2 Method B : Reverse 23

3.3.3 Method C : Tapping 23

3.3.3.1 Drill 23

3.3.3.2 Tapper 24

3.4 EDM Machining (EDM Sinker) 25

3.5 Operation Result 25

3.6 Choose Method 26

3.7 Summary of The Chapter 26

CHAPTER 4: RESULT AND DISCUSSION 27

4.1 Process Selection Method 27

4.1.1 Translate Design Requirement 28

4.1.2 Screen Using Constrains 29

4.1.2.1 The Process – Material Matrix 29

4.1.2.2 The Process – Shape Matrix 30

4.1.2.3 The Mass Bar – Chart 31

4.1.2.4 The Section Thickness Bar – Chart 32

4.1.2.5 The Tolerance Bar – Chart 33

4.1.2.6 The Surface – Roughness Bar – Chart 34 4.1.2.7 The Economic Batch – Size Chart 35

4.1.3 Rank Using Objective 36

4.1.4 Seek Supporting Information 37

4.1.5 Final Process Choose 37

4.2 Statistical 37

4.2.1 Data Collected From Experiment 37

4.2.2 Analysis for Data Collected From Experiment 40 4.2.3 Analysis for Data Collected Using Design Expert 45

vii

4.2.3.1 Design (Actual) 45

4.2.3.2 Analysis 47

4.2.3.3 Optimization 48

4.3 Final Selection Method 49

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 51

5.1 Conclusion 51

5.2 Recommendation 52

5.2.1 More Analysis Method Are Used 52

5.2.2 Implement Using Other Workpiece or Electrode Material 52

5.2.3 Suggestion for Further Study 52

REFERENCES 54

APPENDIX

A Gantt Chart PSM 1 & 2 B Flow Chart PSM

C Full Factorial Design and ANOVA Data D Electrode Design Using Catia V5 19 E Experiment Picture

viii

LIST OF TABLES

1.1 Application screw on medical part 2

1.2 Mechanical characteristics of metal alloys use in medical implant 5 1.3 Comparison capability of machine in fabricating titanium material 8 1.4 Number of the capabilities of fabricating titanium material [/] 8 2.1 Composition of Ti-6Al-4V (mass-friction, %) [11] 10

2.2 Physical performance of Ti-6Al-4V [11] 10

2.3 Experimental setting [10] 14

2.4 Experimental setting [11] 14

2.5 EDM parameter (theoretical) 16

4.1 Design Requirement 28

4.2 Rank Table 36

4.3 Electrode / Tool Wear, g 38

4.4 Dimension Error, % 38

4.5 Machining Time for Electrode 38

4.6 Machining Time By Part for Method A 39

4.7 Machining Time By Part for Method B 39

ix

LIST OF FIGURES

1.1 Requirement of implant 4

1.2 Rolling machine in fabricating screw 6

1.3 Lathe machine fabricating screw 6

1.4 Swiss lathe comparison between conventional thread and thread whirling 7

2.1 Design of standard and orthopedic screw 11

2.2 Parameter of bone screw 12

2.3 Cortical screw [8] 13

2.4 Cancellous screw [8] 13

2.5 Relation between electrode and pulse interval [11] 15 2.6 Relation between electrode and capacitance [11] 15

3.1 Framework 19

3.2 Bone Screw Design (CAD) using CATIA V5 19 20

3.3 Material Order (Titanium Alloy, Ti – 6Al – 4V) 20

3.4 Model for saving money [11] 21

3.5 Electrode Design (CAD) using CATIA V5 19 22

3.6 Hole Produce From Drilling Process 24

3.7 Tapping Process Used Tapper Bit (Manually) 24

4.1 A Flow Chart of The Procedure for Process Selection [15] 27

4.2 Shape Categorize [15] 28

4.3 The Process – Material Matrix 29

4.4 The Process – Shape Matrix [15] 30

4.5 The Mass Bar – Chart [15] 31

4.6 The Section Thickness Bar – Chart [15] 32

4.7 The Tolerance Bar – Chart [15] 33

4.8 The Surface – Roughness Bar – Chart [15] 34

4.9 The Economic Batch – Size Chart [15] 35

4.10 Graph for Electrode / Tool Wear During Fabricating Electrode 40

4.11 Graph for Dimension Error, % for Screw Size 41

4.12 Graph Machining Time for Produce Electrode 43

x

4.14 Design Summary 46

4.15 Design Graph 46

4.16 Analysis Report of Wear 47

4.17 Analysis Report of Error 48

xi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS & NOMENCLATURE

PSM - Projek Sarjana Muda

CNC - Computer Numerical Control EDM - Electric Discharge Machine MRR - Material Removal Rate EWR - Electrode Wear Rate

SR - Surface Roughness

TWR - Tool Wear Rate

CAD - Computer Aided Design

CAM - Computer Aided Manufacturing

% - Percentages

A - Ampere

µs - Micro Second

V - Voltage

g - Gram

1 This chapter is the introductory section of the report. It contains the overview, background, problem statement, objectives, and scope of the study.

1.1 Background of Study

Increasing demand for bone screws, implants and other micro-components creates a need for new techniques that produce specific thread forms quickly and with high tolerances. The hard outer shell and a softer, almost sponge-like core of the human bone requires bone screws to be hard and sharp enough to penetrate the outer shell, without the thread form separating from the soft core (Table 1.1). In addition, the competitive market of bone screw design sees manufacturers change their thread profiles every two to three years, with each profile coming in four different screw designs. A bone screw can be as unique as the human bone it penetrates, and in some cases is designed personally by an orthopaedic surgeon for their patient.

Available in any number of lengths and diameters in standard and custom designs, bone screws tend to have a high aspect ratio, requiring the need for special support devices during manufacture when using the traditional single-point threading tool. Bone screws also have deep threads, requiring many short cuts to be made, which is a slow process that leads to shorter tool life and is worsen when in many cases for medical application the material is from exotic material typically titanium alloys. Another fundamental limitation associated with using a single threading cutter for machining bone screws is the limited helix angle of only seven degrees. Modern

INTRODUCTION

2

screws are designed with helix angles up to 20 degrees. These drawbacks led the medical industry to shift from single-point threading tools to thread-whirling for the production of bone screws.

Thread whirling is a type of thread milling process in which the cutter edges of the tool reside on the inside of the cutter ring rather than the outside. The entire threading operation is performed in a single pass, typically using a thread whirling attachment on a sliding head machine. Other steps in the screw manufacturing process is turning of the front and back of the screw head, drilling of the head, and clearance turning of the hole bottom using the thread whirling attachment. However, since this technique requires a physical contact the tool wear cannot be avoid.

The suitable candidate to overcome this problem is using electrical discharge machining process in which the material is removed by spark erosion. Since there is no physical contact between tool electrode and workpiece, the tool wear rate is low and the material hardness is not dependent. In addition, the main advantages of using EDM technique are the component accuracy and fine surface integrity which is suitable for medical application.

Table 1.1: Application screw on medical part.

No Implant Device Application Area

3

2 Knee plate : Knee :

3 Spinal plate : Spine :

1.2 Orthopedic Medical

Orthopedic medical is one of path in medical. Orthopedic is related with bone and joint human body anatomy. Orthopedic pain mostly causes by accident or injury on work, sport and others. Treatment on orthopedic pain taken by doctor is applying the implant device between the fracture bone and orthopedic disease area. Medical device is one of important requirement in orthopedic surgery. The device needs to fulfill the criteria state on medical standard. In the criteria, material selected is important.

4

1.2.1 Material for Bone Screw.

The material used in medical bone screw called biomaterials. In general material used in medical application, can be categorize into three such as metallic, ceramic and polymeric materials. The material contain in biomaterials must follow the mechanical properties for medical implant called biomechanical properties. The properties are biocompatibility, bioadhesion, biofuctionnality, and corrosion resistance as medical implant relate with human body, human tissues and human sensitivity [1].

Figure 1.1: Requirement of implants [2].

1.2.1.1 Titanium Alloys

Titanium is one of the material listing in biomaterial group. Titanium is under group metallic biomaterial. Another material in metallic biomaterial is stainless steels, and cobalt alloys. Compare with another two material, titanium alloys is the best material because titanium has good biomechanical properties. Titanium alloys is low in specific gravity and good corrosion resistance. This two biomechanical properties are importance when the patient has more than one implant and the surgery take long time or surgeon operates used the surgical tool for a long time [3].

Table 1.1 show the comparison of three materials in medical application. In this table, titanium alloy is high in strength, high in corrosion resistance, high in

5 biocompatibility and low in stiffness. Titanium also has better tissue tolerance compare with other two materials [1].

Table 1.2: Mechanical characteristics of metal alloys use in medical implant [1].

1.2.2 Medical Implant Device from Titanium.

Mostly grade Titanium used in medical is Ti-6Al-4V. The material is combination of 6% Aluminum and 4% Vanadium. This material mostly used because of its harmonizing factor with the human body.

From the listing material in biomaterials group, Titanium Alloys is main material used for device medical implant applied on artificial joint, bone plate, screw, spinal, and other part in human body [1].

Medical grade titanium is used in producing: a) Pins

b) Bone plates c) Screws d) Bars e) Rods f) Posts

g) Expandable rib cages h) Spinal fusion cages

6 The important part is screw because most part produces from Ti-6Al-4V will attach with screw to apply on disease area.

1.3 Current Methods for Fabricating Titanium Screw

Generally, for typical and high volume screw production, rolling machine is used. However the rolling machine produces parts with high tolerance and low part accuracy which affect the product quality. Which not suitable for medical application.

Figure 1.2: Rolling machine in fabricating screw.

As an alternative to overcome the disadvantages in rolling machine CNC Lathe are used for fabricating screw. However, number of published work [4, 5] reported that the tool wear rate is high when turning the titanium workpiece. Diamond tool is always employed for turning the titanium workpiece which increase the cost because the diamond has the highest hardness and highest heat conductivity among the substances and is excellent in chemical stability [6].

7

Another fundamental limitation associated with using a single threading cutter for machining bone screws is the limited helix angle of only seven degrees. Modern screws are designed with helix angles up to 20 degrees. These drawbacks led the medical industry to shift from single-point threading tools to thread-whirling for the production of bone screws. The advantages of single point threading tools has led to the application of thread whirling by using a Swiss machine.

In process to produce Bone screw, the major machine used is Swiss machine. Conventional threading operations on Swiss lathe able in multiple threading cuts by using a single point tool. This machine is the better machine in produce long screws. As shown in figure 1.2, Swiss lathe used with whirling cutter. Whirling cutter rotates at a high speed while bar stock rotates at a low speed. Whirling cutter improve quality and productivity.

Figure 1.4: Swiss lathe. comparison between conventional thread and thread whirling.

The machine also a fast method, due to using six inserts in the milling cutter and ideal for difficult materials while eliminating chip problem. The process using a Swiss machine is very expensive.

The current machining has the problem especially in tool wear and tool life. Current machining is Swiss lathe is a physical contact concept apply to the machine. That means the tool bits will touch the work piece to doing shaping process. The tool will wear after touch the work piece and shape the work piece. Hard material will make faster tool wear happen. Since the material used in producing bone screw, the material is titanium alloy whereas the hard material.

8 The study will propose a new method in producing bone screw. The new method is producing bone screw using Electric Discharge Machine (EDM) Die Sinking. This new method or suggest base of the problem happen on the previous machining like a tool ware, and expensive production cost. The non-physical contact on EDM will used for solution on tool ware and EDM machining not too expensive. The new method also for the problem of current process in machining hard material.

The suitable candidate to overcome this problem is using electrical discharge machining process in which the material is removed by spark erosion. Since there is no physical contact between tool electrode and workpiece, the tool wear rate is low and the material hardness is not dependent. In addition, the main advantages of using EDM technique are the component accuracy and fine surface integrity which is suitable for medical application.

Table 1.3: Comparison capability of machine in fabricating titanium material.

Rolling CNC Lathe Swiss EDM

Tool Wear High High Medium Low

Accuracy Low Medium High High

Time Medium Medium High Low

Cost Low High High Low

Shape Hard Material Low Medium High High

Table 1.4: Number of the capabilities of fabricating titanium material [/].

Rolling CNC Lathe Swiss EDM

Tool Wear X X X /

Accuracy X X / /

Time X X / X

Cost X X X /

Shape Hard Material X X / /

9

1.4 Objectives

Both the difficulties and disadvantages for fabricating Titanium Screw were causing to initiate this project.

a) To design a new concept for fabricating electrode using EDM Sinker on producing bone screw.

- The study was conducted to solve the problem in current machining used for fabricating bone screw.

b) To provide an alternative process for screw thread fabrication method.

- The study was conducted based on the suggested method for producing the electrode used for EDM Die Sinking to machining the titanium alloy.

c) To identify the capability of EDM Die sinking in produces the screw. - The comparison was made based on a screw produce by the current machine and the screw produce by using EDM Die Sinking.

1.5 Scope of Project

The scope of the research was limited on the EDM Die Sinking on the produce the screw used for orthopedic medical implant. The research will fine the capability of EDM Die Sinking in make it screw and follow the specification state on the standard or tool and equipment manufacture in medical implant.

4 1.2.1 Material for Bone Screw.

The material used in medical bone screw called biomaterials. In general material used in medical application, can be categorize into three such as metallic, ceramic and polymeric materials. The material contain in biomaterials must follow the mechanical properties for medical implant called biomechanical properties. The properties are biocompatibility, bioadhesion, biofuctionnality, and corrosion resistance as medical implant relate with human body, human tissues and human sensitivity [1].

Figure 1.1: Requirement of implants [2].

1.2.1.1 Titanium Alloys

Titanium is one of the material listing in biomaterial group. Titanium is under group metallic biomaterial. Another material in metallic biomaterial is stainless steels, and cobalt alloys. Compare with another two material, titanium alloys is the best material because titanium has good biomechanical properties. Titanium alloys is low in specific gravity and good corrosion resistance. This two biomechanical properties are importance when the patient has more than one implant and the surgery take long time or surgeon operates used the surgical tool for a long time [3].

Table 1.1 show the comparison of three materials in medical application. In this table, titanium alloy is high in strength, high in corrosion resistance, high in

5 biocompatibility and low in stiffness. Titanium also has better tissue tolerance compare with other two materials [1].

Table 1.2: Mechanical characteristics of metal alloys use in medical implant [1].

1.2.2 Medical Implant Device from Titanium.

Mostly grade Titanium used in medical is Ti-6Al-4V. The material is combination of 6% Aluminum and 4% Vanadium. This material mostly used because of its harmonizing factor with the human body.

From the listing material in biomaterials group, Titanium Alloys is main material used for device medical implant applied on artificial joint, bone plate, screw, spinal, and other part in human body [1].

Medical grade titanium is used in producing: a) Pins

b) Bone plates c) Screws d) Bars e) Rods f) Posts

g) Expandable rib cages h) Spinal fusion cages

6 The important part is screw because most part produces from Ti-6Al-4V will attach with screw to apply on disease area.

1.3 Current Methods for Fabricating Titanium Screw

Generally, for typical and high volume screw production, rolling machine is used. However the rolling machine produces parts with high tolerance and low part accuracy which affect the product quality. Which not suitable for medical application.

Figure 1.2: Rolling machine in fabricating screw.

As an alternative to overcome the disadvantages in rolling machine CNC Lathe are used for fabricating screw. However, number of published work [4, 5] reported that the tool wear rate is high when turning the titanium workpiece. Diamond tool is always employed for turning the titanium workpiece which increase the cost because the diamond has the highest hardness and highest heat conductivity among the substances and is excellent in chemical stability [6].

7 Another fundamental limitation associated with using a single threading cutter for machining bone screws is the limited helix angle of only seven degrees. Modern screws are designed with helix angles up to 20 degrees. These drawbacks led the medical industry to shift from single-point threading tools to thread-whirling for the production of bone screws. The advantages of single point threading tools has led to the application of thread whirling by using a Swiss machine.

In process to produce Bone screw, the major machine used is Swiss machine. Conventional threading operations on Swiss lathe able in multiple threading cuts by using a single point tool. This machine is the better machine in produce long screws. As shown in figure 1.2, Swiss lathe used with whirling cutter. Whirling cutter rotates at a high speed while bar stock rotates at a low speed. Whirling cutter improve quality and productivity.

Figure 1.4: Swiss lathe. comparison between conventional thread and thread whirling.

The machine also a fast method, due to using six inserts in the milling cutter and ideal for difficult materials while eliminating chip problem. The process using a Swiss machine is very expensive.

The current machining has the problem especially in tool wear and tool life. Current machining is Swiss lathe is a physical contact concept apply to the machine. That means the tool bits will touch the work piece to doing shaping process. The tool will wear after touch the work piece and shape the work piece. Hard material will make faster tool wear happen. Since the material used in producing bone screw, the material is titanium alloy whereas the hard material.

8 The study will propose a new method in producing bone screw. The new method is producing bone screw using Electric Discharge Machine (EDM) Die Sinking. This new method or suggest base of the problem happen on the previous machining like a tool ware, and expensive production cost. The non-physical contact on EDM will used for solution on tool ware and EDM machining not too expensive. The new method also for the problem of current process in machining hard material.

The suitable candidate to overcome this problem is using electrical discharge machining process in which the material is removed by spark erosion. Since there is no physical contact between tool electrode and workpiece, the tool wear rate is low and the material hardness is not dependent. In addition, the main advantages of using EDM technique are the component accuracy and fine surface integrity which is suitable for medical application.

Table 1.3: Comparison capability of machine in fabricating titanium material.

Rolling CNC Lathe Swiss EDM

Tool Wear High High Medium Low

Accuracy Low Medium High High

Time Medium Medium High Low

Cost Low High High Low

Shape Hard Material Low Medium High High

Table 1.4: Number of the capabilities of fabricating titanium material [/].

Rolling CNC Lathe Swiss EDM

Tool Wear X X X /

Accuracy X X / /

Time X X / X

Cost X X X /

Shape Hard Material X X / /

9 1.4 Objectives

Both the difficulties and disadvantages for fabricating Titanium Screw were causing to initiate this project.

a) To design a new concept for fabricating electrode using EDM Sinker on producing bone screw.

- The study was conducted to solve the problem in current machining used for fabricating bone screw.

b) To provide an alternative process for screw thread fabrication method.

- The study was conducted based on the suggested method for producing the electrode used for EDM Die Sinking to machining the titanium alloy.

c) To identify the capability of EDM Die sinking in produces the screw. - The comparison was made based on a screw produce by the current machine and the screw produce by using EDM Die Sinking.

1.5 Scope of Project

The scope of the research was limited on the EDM Die Sinking on the produce the screw used for orthopedic medical implant. The research will fine the capability of EDM Die Sinking in make it screw and follow the specification state on the standard or tool and equipment manufacture in medical implant.