Electrical Discharge Machining
Electrical Discharge Machining
Electrical Discharge Machining
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Keywords Abstract
Electrical discharge machining Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the earliest non-traditional machining processes. EDM process is based on
(EDM), electrode, spark, thermoelectric energy between the work piece and an electrode. A spark occurs in a small gap between the work piece and the
workpiece, gap, conductivity. electrode and removes the material from the work piece through melting and vaporising. The electrode and the work piece must be
electrically conductive in order to generate the spark. Various types of products can be produced and/or finished using EDM such as
dies, moulds, parts of aerospace, automotive industry and surgical components etc. This paper presents the various research issues
in EDM along with the modelling technique in predicting EDM performances.
History Received 24 January 2014 | Revised 17 March 2014 | Accepted 20 March 2014
INTRODUCTION
Depending upon the applied potential difference and the gap
Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the most between the tool and workpiece, an electric field would be
extensively used non-conventional material removal processes. established [4]. As the electric field is established between the
It is an electro-thermal machining process where electrical tool and the job, the free electrons on the tool are subjected to
energy is used to generate electrical spark and material removal electrostatic forces. As a result of which electrons are plucked
mainly occurs due to thermal energy of the spark. Electrical out from the tool and then accelerated towards the job through
discharge machining mainly consists of two major components the dielectric medium. As they gain velocity and energy, and
that are machine tool and a power supply. The machine tool start moving towards the job, there would be collisions between
holds a shaped electrode, which advances into the workpiece the electrons and dielectric molecules. Such collision may result
and produces a shaped cavity. The electrical spark is produced in ionisation of the dielectric molecules. Thus, as the electrons
from a power supply. It produces a high frequency series of get accelerated, more positive ions and electrons would get
electrical discharges between the electrode and the workpiece, generated due to collisions. This cyclic process would increase
which remove metal from the workpiece by thermal erosion or the concentration of electrons and ions in the dielectric medium
vaporization [1-2]. Fig.1 is showing the electric setup of the between the tool and the job at the spark gap creating a
electric discharge machining process. The tool is made cathode channel known as “plasma”. The electrical resistance of such
and work piece is anode and a potential difference is applied plasma channel would be very less. Thus all of a sudden, a large
between the tool and work piece which finally leads to number of electrons will flow from the tool to the job and ions
generation of spark. An important characteristic of EDM is that from the job to the tool. This is called avalanche motion of
both the tool and work piece must be electrically conductive electrons. Such movement of electrons and ions can be visually
and completely immersed in a dielectric medium [3] supplied seen as a spark. Thus the electrical energy is dissipated as the
continuously by the pump as show in the Fig. 1. thermal energy of the spark. The high speed electrons then
impinge on the job and ions on the tool. The kinetic energy of
Feed control the electrons and ions on impact with the surface of the job and
tool respectively would be converted into thermal energy or
heat flux. Such intense localised heat flux leads to extreme
Electrode
instantaneous confined rise in temperature which would be in
Gap
excess of 10,000oC. Such localised extreme rise in temperature
leads to material removal. The molten metal is not removed
Dielectric
completely but only partially. An important advantage is that in
Work piece
EDM process there is no direct contact between the electrode
DC Power Source
and the work piece where it can eliminate mechanical stresses,
Figure 1 Electrical setup for EDM process. chatter and vibration problems during machining. This promotes
Electric discharge machining (EDM) to machine difficult-to-
Generally kerosene or deionised water is used as the dielectric machine materials and high strength temperature resistant
medium. A proper gap must be maintained between the tool alloys too. It is mainly used by toolmakers for complex injection
and the workpiece with the help of servo mechanism. moulds, punch dies and cavities made from hard to machine
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Equbal A, Sood AM Electrical Discharge Machining: An Overview on Various Areas of Research
materials in small batches or even on job-shop basis [5].When g. Diameter of electrode (D): It is the electrode diameter used
the potential difference is withdrawn, the plasma channel is no in EDM process.
longer sustained. As the plasma channel collapse, it generates h. Over cut – It is a clearance per side between the electrode
pressure or shock waves, which evacuates the molten material and the work piece after the machining operation.
forming a crater of removed material around the site of the
spark. Characteristics of EDM
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Electrical Discharge Machining: An Overview on Various Areas of Research Equbal A, Sood A M
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Equbal A, Sood AM Electrical Discharge Machining: An Overview on Various Areas of Research
The rotary electrode was placed above the work material. The ELECTRODE MATERIALS
difficulty of debris problem was encountered the research work
i.e. lower metal removal rate and arching occurs due to the Traditional electrodes used in EDM include Brass, Copper,
accumulation of debris particle between the electrode and work tungsten, Zinc and graphite. Most of these electrodes
piece. experience problems as severe wear, brittleness, low
mechanical strength and etc. Thus for obtaining desired
machining performance researches are going on for developing
AUTOMATION electrode materials based on the concept that the properties of
A great attention is being focused in the implementation of the electrodes such as melting point and electrical conductivity
intelligent CAD/CAM tool for reducing the tooling problem and etc. Zhang et al. [22] suggested that Cu-graphite, Cu-ZrB2 and
manual intervention in the EDM machining. For machining of Cu-TiB2 composites has good capabilities of removing material
any complicated profile the tool movement path is generated by with little wear loss. Tsai et al. [23] studied the EDM
the CAD system for example as in case of CNC machining. The performance of Cr/Cu-based composite electrodes. Their work
complicated profile region is divided into sub-regions and reveals that the Cr/Cu-based composite electrodes obtained a
accordingly the path for the movement of electrode is higher MRR than Cu metal electrodes and fewer cracks were
generated. The aim is to develop a user friendly CAD tool that present on the machined surface. Furthermore, the chromium
supports EDM machining rapidly and economically with ease. (Cr) elements in the composite electrode migrated to the work
Kong et al. [18] proposed an automated method for patching piece, resulting in good corrosion resistance of the machined
parting surfaces that have holes or non-cylindrical hollow surface after EDM.
features. Alok et al. [19] developed a method that locates the
part lines and creates the parting surface of multi-piece moulds RAPID ELECTRODE MANUFACTURING
and can cope with the production of complex parts.
Electrode is an important organ of EDM process because the
shape of the electrode is finally transferred to the work piece for
GREEN MANUFACTURING achieving the desired profile. If any complicated profile is
encountered then electrode manufacturing accordingly
Modern industries are focusing much on the possibilities for becomes difficult to produce. Also in mould and die production
moving towards “green manufacturing” so that their harmful EDM cycle can account for 25 to 40% of the lead time, out of
impacts on the environment can be minimized to maximum which the electrode production represents over 50% of the cost
possible extent. In any variants of EDM the dielectric fluid turns and time of an EDM operation. Thus a systematic system needs
into waste after certain cycles, is found not only affecting the to be developed that can accelerate the electrode
environmental balance as after use it mixes with soil and affects manufacturing time whether it is any shape of electrode so that
its fertility but also affect the economic impact because of use of the time and cost involved in electrode preparation can be
dielectrics for only short run. This is being used as an indicator minimized and economic balance can be established. Thus a
great attention is focused in the concerned respect by
for EDM’S manufacturer to seek for more environmental
integrating it with many computer assisted processes e.g. Rapid
friendly dielectric. Hence more and more researches are focused prototyping (RP), Finite element method (FEM). Allan et al. [24]
on EDM with deionized water and dry EDM as they don’t have investigated on electroforming of rapid prototyping mandrels
any problem with their disposal. The deionized water found a for electro-discharge machining. A conclusion was drawn that
great potential to be use as a dielectric, also it is cheap and non thin walled copper electroforms backed up with suitable filler
polluting. A research conducted by Kwan Chung Do et al. [20] materials are ideal for use as electro-discharge machining
showed that surface finish of micro-edm hole using deionized electrodes. Hsu et al. [25] worked on EDM electrode
water is greatly improved. Dry EDM uses gas as dielectric fluid, manufacturing using RP combining electroless plating with
and high MRR can be obtained to cut high strength engineering electroforming. They concluded that test results indicate that no
crack was found on the electrode and that the electrical
materials with the presence of oxygen [21].
discharge machining effects are promising.
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Electrical Discharge Machining: An Overview on Various Areas of Research Equbal A, Sood A M
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Equbal A, Sood AM Electrical Discharge Machining: An Overview on Various Areas of Research
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