Feasibility study of micro-slit EDM machining using pure water

This study addresses micro-slit EDM machining feasibility using pure water as the dielectric fluid. Experimental results revealed that pure water could be used as a dielectric fluid and adopting negative polarity EDM machining could obtain high material removal rate (MRR), low electrode wear, small slit expansion, and little machined burr, compared to positive polarity machining. In comparing kerosene versus pure water, pure water was observed to cause low carbon adherence to the electrode surface. Also discharge energy does not decrease and the discharge processes are not interrupted. Therefore, MRR was higher, and related electrode wear ratio compared to kerosene use was lower. In a continual EDM with multi-slit machining, kerosene will cause carbon element adherence, creating an initially high MRR and electrode wear, with rapid decline. However, pure water will not cause carbon element adherence on the electrode surface, so MRR and electrode wear is always stable in this process.     

Effects of Powder Characteristics on Electrodischarge Machining Efficiency

This paper presents the effects of various powder characteristics on the efficiency of electrodischarge machining (EDM) SKD-11. The additives examined include aluminium (Al), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and silicon carbide (SiC) powders that have significant differences in their thermophysical properties. The machining mechanism with the addition of the foreign particles, the tool wear rate (TWR), and the material removal rate (MRR) have been investigated. It was found experimentally that the particle concentration, the particle size, the particle density, the electrical resistivity, and the thermal conductivity of powders were important characteristics that significantly affected the machining performance in the EDM process. Proper addition of powders to the dielectric fluid increased the MRR and, thus, decreased the TWR. Under the same particle concentration experiments, the smallest suspended particle size led to the greatest MRR and, thus, the lowest TWR. Of the additives investigated, chromium powder produced the greatest MRR and the lowest TWR, whereas the process without foreign particles has the converse effects. The addition of copper powder to the dielectric fluid was found to make almost no difference to the pure kerosene EDM system.     

Effect on crystalline structure of AISI M2 steel using tungsten–thorium electrode through MRR,EWR, and surface finish

To investigate on the crystalline structure of AISI M2 steel by using tungsten–thorium electrode in electrical discharge machining (EDM) process was studied. Furthermore, the investigation were carried out for finding the value of material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR) and surface roughness (SR) of tool steel material depending upon three variable input process parameters. On the basis of weight loss, the value of MRR and EWR were calculated at optimized process parameter. Subsequently, surface topography of the processed material were examined through different characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Optical surface profiler (OSP) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. In XRD study, broadening of the peak was observed which confirmed the change in material properties due to the homogeneous dispersion of the particles inside the matrix. Lowest surface roughness and MRR of 0.001208 mg/min was obtained. Minimum surface roughness was obtained 1.12 μm and 2.18427 nm by OSP and AFM study, respectively. Also, minimum EWR was found as 0.013986 mg/min.     

基于数控刀位轨迹的电火花成形加工中电极平动补偿和修正

在电火花成形加工(EDM)中,电极的平动产生了加工误差。针对EDM中电极平动的不同类型,提出并实现了基于数控刀位轨迹的电极平动补偿修正方法。该方法根据EDM的电极平动类型和平动量对用于电极加工的数控程序进行补偿处理,达到对电极平动进行修正的目的,从而减少电极平动所产生的加工误差。试验表明,该方法可以有效地提高EDM加工精度、保持加工质量的稳定性以及降低劳动程度和缩短生产周期。     

基于刀轨广义偏置的电火花摇动加工补偿方法

针对电火花加工中电极摇动产生加工误差的问题,结合电极自由曲面数控加工的基本原理,提出基于数控刀轨广义偏置的补偿方法。通过对电极自由曲面原始加工刀轨的广义偏置计算,可有效、统一地解决自由曲面电极典型摇动方式所引起的加工误差问题,同时对偏置计算后产生的刀轨自交问题进行讨论。针对实际生产加工对象和不同的电极摇动方式,进行补偿计算和生产加工验证。检测结果表明,该方法能够较大地提高加工精度,缩短生产周期。     

MICRO ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING DEPOSITION IN AIR

A new deposition method is described using micro electrical discharge machining (EDM) to deposit tool electrode material on workpiece in air. The basic principles of micro electrical discharge deposition (EDD) are analyzed and the realized conditions are predicted. With an ordinary EDM shaping machine, brass as the electrode, high-speed steel as the workpiece, a lot of experiments are carried out on micro EDD systematically and thoroughly. The effects of major processing parameters, such as the discharge current, discharge duration, pulse interval and working medium, are obtained. As a result, a micro cylinder with 0.19 mm in diameter and 7.35 mm in height is deposited. By exchanging the polarities of the electrode and workpiece the micro cylinder can be removed selectively. So the reversible machining of deposition and removal is achieved, which breaks through the constraint of traditional EDM. Measurements show that the deposited material is compact and close to workpiece base, whose components depend on the tool electrode material.     

水包油型乳化液钛合金TC4电火花加工特性研究

为解决钛合金在煤油介质中电火花加工效率低及在蒸馏水介质中加工表面质量差的问题,提出利用乳化剂将煤油和蒸馏水超声振动后形成水包油型乳化液作为工作介质的加工方法。分别以煤油、水包油型乳化液和蒸馏水为工作介质,对钛合金TC4进行放电加工试验,从加工效率、电极相对损耗率和表面质量三个方面,对比研究了不同工作介质中钛合金电火花加工的特性。试验结果表明：水包油型乳化液中的加工效率是煤油中加工效率的两倍左右,工件表面粗糙度值Ra比蒸馏水中的Ra值减小了15%~20%,加工后工件表面微裂纹较少,表面较平整,但其电极相对损耗率高。     

Electrical discharge grinding of polycrystalline diamond – Effect of wheel rotation

Electrical Discharge Grinding (EDG) is an advanced machining process that becomes popular in manufacturing of Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) tools. This research investigated the effects of wheel rotation as well as debris flow direction on the quality of PCD tools based on a series of EDG experiments. Experimental results showed the debris that flowed toward the cutting edge could significantly affect the edge sharpness and symmetry of the tool, which were critical for the smaller edge apex angle. Evidence of spark concentration caused by the debris accumulation phenomenon were found through microscopic analysis on the eroded surfaces. This research also revealed the unexplained phenomenon associated with the undercut that normally formed beneath the PCD cutting edge after erosion. By examining PCD samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy, the formation of the heat-affected layer caused by the high-temperature erosion process in the EDG was analyzed. Results also proved that the surface finish of tungsten carbide (WC) and notch width of the PCD tools, particularly on the tungsten carbide WC/PCD interface, should not be taken as the index to measure PCD tool quality.     

精密电火花加工机床四轴三联动数控系统的研制

论述了精密电火花加工机床数控系统软、硬件的设计。该系统以一台 ４８６ 系统机为主机和４ 片 ８０３１ 单片机为从机组成主从式控制系统实现四轴三联动功能, 并采用步进电机细分驱动技术,在电火花机床上实现了小于 ０．１μｍ 的脉冲进给。该机床还具有多种摇动功能, 可修光或加工锥面和球面。因而可用于各种难加工零件的精密电火花加工。     

Optimisation of the electrical discharge machining process using a GA-based neural network

In this paper, the optimisation of the EDM process parameters from the rough cutting stage to the finish cutting stage has been reported. A trained neural network was used to establish the relationship between the process parameters and machining performance. Genetic algorithms with properly defined objective functions were then adapted to the neural network to determine the optimal process parameters. Examples with specifications intentionally assigned the same values as those recorded in the database or selected arbitrarily have been fed into the developed GA-based neural network in order to verify the optimisation ability throughout the machining process. Accordingly, the optimised results indicate that the GA-based neural network can be successfully used to generate optimal process parameters from the rough cutting stage to the finish cutting stage.     

基于BSO算法的TA7电火花成形加工多目标优化

针对现有电火花机床上没有钛合金加工电规准的问题,设计中心组合实验,综合考量空载电压、峰值电流、脉冲宽度以及脉冲间隔对TA7电火花加工材料去除率、表面粗糙度和电极损耗率的影响。建立材料去除率、表面粗糙度和电极损耗率的预测模型。为了同时兼顾材料去除率、表面粗糙度和电极损耗率这三个相互矛盾的工艺目标,建立工艺目标优化模型,设计头脑风暴算法对优化模型进行求解。对优化结果进行验证:材料去除率、表面粗糙度和电极损耗率的实测值与优化结果的平均相对误差分别为5%、4.7%、5.5%。验证结果表明头脑风暴算法可以有效的获得TA7钛合金电火花加工的最佳工艺参数。     

微细电火花加工机床关键技术

研制开发两台高精度、高性能,具有自主知识产权的微细电火花加工机床,并对微细电火花加工机床的几个特有关键技术进行了深入研究.基于压电陶瓷的宏微伺服进给系统能实现分辨率为3.42 nm的微进给,并且能实现振动式进给,以改善微细电火花加工的间隙状态,提高微细电火花的加工效率和加工质量.结合块电极反拷与线电极反拷的微细工具电极反拷系统,可高效高精度地现场制作微细电极,电极直径最小可达4 μm.基于多传感器信息融合技术的放电间隙状态监测技术,能很好地解决微细电火花加工间隙状态的监测与识别问题.RC脉冲电源不存在维持电压现象,这一最新发现为降低单脉冲放电能量难题提供一个新的解决途径,使得基于RC方法开发的超微能脉冲电源的单脉冲放电能量最小降至皮焦级,为微细电火花加工奠定了良好的基础.最后的微细电火花加工试验表明,所开发的微细电火花加工机床性能稳定,且加工质量良好,尤其适合加工孔径为50～200 μm的微细孔.     

Machining Characteristics of Al2O3/6061Al Composite using Rotary EDM with a Disklike Electrode

This work optimises the cutting of Al₂O₃/6061Al composite using rotary electro-discharging machining (EDM) with a disklike electrode by using Taguchi methodology. The Taguchi method is used to formulate the experimental layout, to analyse the effect of each EDM parameter on the machining characteristics, and to predict the optimal choice for each EDM parameter. Four observed values, MRR, EWR, REWR, and SR, are used to verify this optimisation of the machining technique. In addition, six independent parameters are chosen as variables in evaluating the Taguchi method and are categorised into two groups: 1. Electrical parameters, e.g. polarity, peak current, pulse duration, and powder supply voltage. 2. Non-electrical parameters, e.g. circumferential speed of electrode, reciprocating speed. The analysis of the Taguchi method reveals that, in general, the electrical group more significantly affects the machining characteristics than the non-electrical group. Also derived herein are semi-empirical equation that contain all of the machining characteristics. Experimental results are presented to illustrate the proposed approach.     

基于Pareto前沿的单晶Si放电加工工艺参数优化

针对电火花加工复杂、时变、多参数的特点,在单晶硅Si放电成型加工可行性的基础上,对材料去除率和表面粗糙度等工艺目标进行综合评价。采用中心组合设计实验综合考察峰值电流、脉冲宽度、脉冲间隔对P型单晶Si放电成型加工过程中材料去除率以及表面粗糙度的影响程度,通过响应曲面法分别获得材料去除率和表面粗糙度的二次响应模型,方差分析结果表明模型具有很好的拟合程度和适应性。以提高材料去除率和降低表面粗糙度为目标建立工艺参数优化模型,设计遗传算法对优化问题进行求解并得到Pareto最优解集。实验结果表明,料去除率的实验结果与优化预测结果平均相对误差为5.8%,表面粗糙度的实验结果与优化预测结果平均相对误差为5.3%。表明该算法能有效快速的实现P型单晶Si放电成型加工过程的工艺参数优化。     

Numerical and experimental study on the effect of vibration of the tool in ultrasonic assisted EDM

In this paper the effect of ultrasonic vibration of the tool in the process of electrical discharge machining is investigated. The ultrasonic vibration of the tool has significant effect on the dynamic behaviour of the vapour bubble generated between the tool and the workpiece due to the electrical discharge. The computational simulation of the bubble behaviour is carried out by employing the boundary integral equation method. Results show that when the electrical discharge occurs in the closest position of the tool to the workpiece, the vapour bubble expands to the largest maximum volume of the bubble and the lifetime of the bubble is the longest. This in turn makes the pressure inside the bubble decrease rapidly to the lowest magnitude and causes melted material at the sparked point vaporize and leave the crater on the surface of the workpiece.     

An Investigation into Improving Worn Electrode Reliability in the Electrical Discharge Machining Process

In this paper, the use of a strength–stress interference model to study electrode reliability during wear in electrical discharge machining has been reported. In order to improve the electrode reliability, the Taguchi method, which is a powerful tool for parameter design of performance characteristics is used to determine machining parameters for minimum electrode wear ratio in electrical discharge machining operations. Through this study, not only is the electrode reliability improved, but also the machining parameters that significantly affect the electrode wear ratio in electrical discharge machining operations are obtained. Experimental results are provided to verify this approach.     

Electrical discharge machining of submicron holes using ultrasmall-diameter electrodes

We have carried out the electrical discharge machining (EDM) of submicron holes using ultrasmall-diameter electrodes. Two types of electrode were used: tungsten electrodes fabricated by the combination of wire electrodischarge grinding and electrochemical machining, and silicon electrodes originally designed as probes for scanning probe microscopes. The diameters of the former and latter were 1 μm or less, and less than 0.15 μm, respectively. Holes were drilled using a relaxation-type pulse generator at an open-circuit voltage of less than or equal to 20 V with the machine's stray capacitance as the only capacitance. Using tungsten electrodes, holes of less than 1 μm in diameter and more than 1 μm in depth were successfully drilled. A 1.3-μm-wide slot was also fabricated by drilling many holes with a small pitch. It was possible to drill holes of approximately 0.5 μm diameter using silicon electrodes because the electrode diameter was less than those of the tungsten electrodes. These holes have the smallest reported diameter for holes drilled by EDM, indicating the possibility of submicron- and nanoscale machining by EDM.     

基于智能技术的电火花加工过程建模和参数优化

根据电火花加工工艺特点 ,建立基于遗传算法的加工过程人工神经网络模型 ,实现加工结果的预测。根据预测结果 ,在保证表面粗糙度要求的前提下 ,以最大加工速度为目标 ,用遗传算法实现加工参数的优化。实验结果表明以上算法可有效解决电火花加工条件优化的问题 ,自动生成加工参数 ,而且收敛速度较快 ,满足机床控制的要求。