Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the earliest non-traditional machining processes. EDM process is based on thermoelectric energy between the work piece and an electrode. A pulse discharge occurs in a small gap between the work piece and the electrode and removes the unwanted material from the parent metal through melting and vaporising. The electrode and the work piece must have electrical conductivity in order to generate the spark. There are various types of products which can be produced using EDM such as dies and moulds. Parts of aerospace, automotive industry and surgical components can be finished by EDM. This paper reviews the research trends in EDM on ultrasonic vibration, dry EDM machining, EDM with powder additives, EDM in water and modeling technique in predicting EDM performances.

A review on current research trends in electrical discharge machining (EDM)

Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is a specialised thermal machining process capable of accurately machining parts with varying hardness or complex shapes, which have sharp edges that are very difficult to be machined by the main stream machining processes. This practical technology of the WEDM process is based on the conventional EDM sparking phenomenon utilising the widely accepted non-contact technique of material removal. Since the introduction of the process, WEDM has evolved from a simple means of making tools and dies to the best alternative of producing micro-scale parts with the highest degree of dimensional accuracy and surface finish quality. Over the years, the WEDM process has remained as a competitive and economical machining option fulfilling the demanding machining requirements imposed by the short product development cycles and the growing cost pressures. However, the risk of wire breakage and bending has undermined the full potential of the process drastically reducing the efficiency and accuracy of the WEDM operation. A significant amount of research has explored the different methodologies of achieving the ultimate WEDM goals of optimising the numerous process parameters analytically with the total elimination of the wire breakages thereby also improving the overall machining reliability. This paper reviews the vast array of research work carried out from the spin-off from the EDM process to the development of the WEDM. It reports on the WEDM research involving the optimisation of the process parameters surveying the influence of the various factors affecting the machining performance and productivity. The paper also highlights the adaptive monitoring and control of the process investigating the feasibility of the different control strategies of obtaining the optimal machining conditions. A wide range of WEDM industrial applications are reported together with the development of the hybrid machining processes. The final part of the paper discusses these developments and outlines the possible trends for future WEDM research.

State of the art in wire electrical discharge machining (wedm)

This paper presents an overview of the current technological and economical capabilities of electrochemical (ECM-based), electro-physical (EDM-based) and photonic (Laser-/EBM-based) additive and removal processes for turbomachinery component manufacture. Starting with the industrial demands and challenges of today, the technologies are reviewed in detail regarding achievable geometrical precision and surface integrity as well as material removal and deposition rates for conventionally difficult-to-cut Ti- and Ni-based alloys and dedicated steels. Past, existing and future areas of technology application of these advanced non-mechanical manufacturing processes are discussed. The paper focusses on the description of shaping processes therefore excludes pure welding or coating applications.

Turbomachinery component manufacture by application of electrochemical, electro-physical and photonic processes

Intrinsically smart, metal matrix composites (MMCs) are lightweight and high-performance materials having ever expanding industrial applications. The structural and the functional properties of these materials can be altered as per the industrial demands. The process technologies indulged in fabrication and machining of these materials attract the researchers and industrial community. Hybrid electric discharge machining is a promising and the most reliable nonconventional machining process for MMCs. It exhibits higher competence for machining complex shapes with greater accuracy. This paper presents an up-to-date review of progress and benefits of different routes for fabrication and machining of composites. It reports certain practical analysis and research findings including various issues on fabrication and machining of MMCs. It is concluded that polycrystalline tools and diamond-coated tools are best suitable for various conventional machining operations. High speed, small depth of cut and low feed ra...

Z. N. Guo

Papers

A study of ultrasonic-aided wire electrical discharge machining

Study on the machining mechanism of WEDM with ultrasonic vibration of the wire