Machinability Analysis and Optimization in Wire EDM of Medical Grade NiTiNOL Memory Alloy.

NiTiNOL (Nickel-Titanium) shape memory alloys (SMAs) are ideal replacements for titanium alloys used in bio-medical applications because of their superior properties like shape memory and super elasticity. The machining of NiTiNOL alloy is challenging, as it is a difficult to cut material. Hence, in the current research the experimental studies on machinability aspects of medical grade NiTiNOL SMA during wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) using zinc coated brass wire as electrode material have been carried out.