EDM-Lathe for Micromachining

In this paper a new type of micro-EDM machine is proposed. The machine operates similarly to a turning lathe. An electrode fabrication system is installed which makes it possible to fabricate on-the-machine complex microelectrodes with sharp edges and corners. A prototype set of equipment was realized and test machining proved that a machine of this type can produce microcylindrical, overhung cavities, or cylindrical microholes with larger internal diameters than the entrance diameter. This result reveals the possibility of fabrication of various microparts such as microball bearings.     

Investigation of micro-EDM material removal characteristics using single RC-pulse discharges

Similar to EDM, in micro-EDM, intense heat is generated between the workpiece and tool electrode by the discharge through a dielectric medium to result in the formation of a microcrater that is much smaller in size. In this study, a single-spark generator has been developed to study the erosion characteristics from the microcrater size. Using a simple heat transfer model, the efficiency at different discharge condition is also deduced. It is found that at lower-energy (<50 μJ) discharges, the energy required to remove the unit volume of material, defined as the specific energy, is found to be much less than that at higher-energy discharges. Additionally, the ratio of the standard deviation to the measured microcrater size is found to be lower at lower discharge energy, indicating greater consistency in shape and size when the discharge occurs at lower energy. The fundamental erosion mechanism of material is discussed by considering melting and evaporation phenomena using theoretical modeling. The average efficiency of erosion, when estimated to be due primarily to melting or evaporation alone, is found to be up to an order of magnitude higher at lower-energy discharges than that at higher-energy discharges.     

Parametric study on design of composite–foam–resin concrete sandwich structures for precision machine tool structures

In this paper, sandwich structures for micro-EDM machines are optimized by using parametric study varying composite geometries and parameters like stacking sequence, thickness and rib geometry. The structures are composed of fibre reinforced composites for skin material and resin concrete and PVC foam (Closed cell, Divinycell) for core materials. Column structure was designed by a beam with cruciform rib and performance indices such as static bending stiffness (EI) and specific bending stiffness (EI/ρ) for dynamic stability are examined by controlling the thickness and stacking sequence of composites. For the machine tool bed, which usually has a plate shape, was designed to have high stiffness in two directions at the same time controlling stacking sequence and rib geometry; that is, rib thickness and number of ribs. The sensitivity of design parameters like rib thickness and composite skin thickness was examined and the optimal condition for high stiffness structure was suggested. Finite element analysis was also performed to verify the static and dynamic robustness of the machine structure. L-shaped joint for combining bed and column of the micro-EDM machine was proposed and fabricated using adhesive bonding. The dynamic performance such as damping characteristics was investigated by vibration tests. From the results optimal configuration and materials for high precision micro-EDM machines are proposed.     

Precision machining of micro tool electrodes in micro EDM for drilling array micro holes

Micro electro discharge machining (micro EDM) is suitable for machining micro holes on metal alloy materials, and the micro holes can be machined even to several microns by use of wire electro discharge grinding (WEDG) of micro electrodes. However, considering practicability of micro holes <Φ100 μm in batch processing, the controllable accuracy of holes’ diameter, the consistency accuracy of repeated machining and the processing efficiency are required to be systematically improved. On the basis of conventional WEDG method, a tangential feed WEDG (TF-WEDG) method combined with on-line measurement using a charge coupled device (CCD) was proposed for improving on-line machining accuracy of micro electrodes. In TF-WEDG, removal resolution of micro-electrode diameter (the minimum thickness to be removed from micro electrode) is greatly improved by feeding the electrode along the tangential direction of wire-guide arc, and the resolution is further improved by employing negative polarity machining. Taking advantage of the high removal resolution, the precise diameter of micro-electrode can be achieved by the tangential feed of electrode to a certain position after diameter feedback of on-line measurement. Furthermore, a hybrid process was presented by combining the TF-WEDG method and a self-drilled holes method to improve the machining efficiency of micro electrodes. A cyclic alternating process of micro-electrode repeated machining and micro holes’ drilling was implemented for array micro holes with high consistency accuracy. Micro-EDM experiments were carried out for verifying the proposed methods and processes, and the experimental results show that the repeated machining accuracy of micro electrodes was less than 2 μm and the consistency accuracy of array micro holes was ±1.1 μm.     

Bending strength analysis of micro WC-shaft manufactured by micro electro-discharge machining

Micro electro-discharge machining (micro-EDM) is a critical technology to fabricate high aspect ratio 3D micro-components. However, the surfaces of micro-components manufactured by micro-EDM will exhibit micro-cracks to produce notch effects, and lead to stress concentrate and reduction of fatigue strength. This paper performs micro-bending tests to investigate the influence of various roughness and size on the bending fracture strength of micro WC-shafts manufactured by micro-EDM. The experimental results indicate that the surface roughness, axial surface area, volume, and length of the specimen will affect its bending fracture strength. For specimens with the same size, the mean bending fracture strength decreases as the surface roughness increases, and the bending fracture probability of the specimens also increases (roughness effect). For specimens with the same roughness, reducing the length or axial surface area will increase the mean bending fracture strength, and reduces the bending fracture probability (size effect).     

微细电火花加工及表面重铸层电解去除装置的设计

微细电火花加工工件表面的重铸层影响加工精度和使用性能,为此设计了具有微细电火花加工及电解去除表面重铸层功能的集成装置。该装置由运动平台、伺服控制、脉冲电源等关键部分组成,集成了微细电火花和微细电解加工功能。针对不同加工方法采用不同的控制策略,解决了微细电火花加工与电解加工在同一设备上的集成问题。通过实验验证,该装置可以很好地实现微细电火花加工表面重铸层的在线去除,且去除厚度可通过改变加工参数的形式来控制。     

微细电火花穿孔加工系统开发与应用技术研究

研究了微细电火花穿孔加工系统的构建与控制技术,以开放式运动控制器为控制核心,开发了一种适用于微细电火花加工机理研究的穿孔加工试验平台,利用该平台可实现微细电极的制作和微小孔加工.具有软硬件开放程度高,柔性好,与各类伺服系统兼容性好等优点,利于二次开发、机床功能拓展与改造.     

Development of a linear electrostrictive servo motor

This paper presents a linear electrostrictive servo motor with high resolution and large stroke for ultra-precision motion control. High thrust force is obtained by making use of an electromagnetic clamping mechanism with force magnifying structure in the motor design. An operator alterable iterative learning control algorithm is proposed for the motion control of the motor. A prototype is designed, fabricated and tested. Experimental results show that the prototype has a mechanical resolution of 0.02 μm, yaw error less than 2 μm and maximum thrust force of 30N. Applications of the motor include producing the servo feed motions required in micro electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) system or as a motion control device for other precision machining systems.     

Development of a micro-punching machine and study on the influence of vibration machining in micro-EDM

This paper describes the development of a novel micro-punching machine that is capable of producing precision micro-holes. A significant feature of this machine is to fabricate the micro-punch and then the micro-die in the same machine, totally eliminating the eccentricity between the punch and the die when punching is proceeded. By applying vibration machining technique, we can decrease the possibility of electric short-circuiting during the micro-EDM process. The utilization of a proportional solenoid as the power unit of the micro-punching machine and as the source of vibration is found to be a successful attempt. Experiments to punch micro-holes with diameters of 0.1 and 0.2 mm on an SUS 304 stainless steel strip with 0.1 mm in thickness were carried out. The results show that the performance of this machine and the geometry of punched micro-holes are satisfactory.     

Fabrication of micro-end mill tool by EDM and its performance evaluation

Abstract

Micro-milling is a fast, cheap and controlled process compared to other micro-fabrication processes such as lithography, laser/electron/ion beam machining, etc. However, scarcity of cutting tools of very small dimensions often results in limited application of micro-milling. In the present study, electro discharge machining (EDM) is used for fabrication of micro-end mill tool. To ensure high dimensional accuracy of the tool, a parametric study is conducted by replicating the a tungsten carbide block to a tungsten carbide (WC) block. The relationships between the drilled cavities on the block and the features on the micro-tool are established. The influence of machining parameters (voltage, capacitance and spindle speed) on the response variables (entrance diameter, hole depth, material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness) is reported. Capacitance is found more dominant as compared to other selected process parameters. Using optimized parameters from the parametric study, a WC micro-end mill tool of 100?µm diameter is fabricated. Channel of around 110 µm width, 40?µm depth and surface roughness of 70?nm is successfully fabricated on aluminum. The performance of the fabricated tool is compared with a commercial end mill tool by milling micro channels on stainless steel.