EDM turning using a strip electrode

Turning by electrical discharge machining (EDM turning) is an effective method to machine hard-to-cut materials. Generally, a wire-EDM is utilized in EDM turning because it is not concerned with electrode wear. However, wire-EDM turning has a slow machining speed due to its small machining area, and the wire may break due to overheating electrodes. For these reasons, its machining speed must be limited. In this study, a strip-EDM was created in an effort to overcome the problems in the EDM-turning process. This machining method used a conductive strip as an electrode. The strip was fed continuously, like a wire-EDM; therefore electrode wear was not a concern. One advantage of the strip-EDM was that it increased the material removal rate because of its large machining area and non-breaking electrode. In the experiments, machining characteristics were investigated according to machining conditions, and practical machining was carried out via fabrication of complex shapes on a shaft workpiece.