Optimization and electro chemical grinding surface investigation on eglin steel

•The present investigation is used to analyze the surface of ECG of eglin steel.•The grinding wheel speed, voltage and flow rate are used to evaluate the rate of metal removal.•The desirable rate of metal removal was found through taguchi technique.•The parametric effect and their role were investigated through variance analysis.•The grinding surface of the eglin steel was analyzed through atomic force microscopy.•The surface texture was also studied through surface roughness plot.