石墨电极电火花加工性能的影响因素分析

影响石墨电极电火花加工性能的因素很多，各因素的合理配合对电火花加工特性有重要的影响。分析了主轴性能、脉冲电源及智能控制、工作液、电参数和加工极性选择等对石墨电极加工性能的影响，为生产实践提供了理论依据。     

Surface modifications of Al–Zn–Mg alloy using combined EDM with ultrasonic machining and addition of TiC particles into the dielectric

This study proposes a novel combined process that integrates electrical discharge machining (EDM) and ultrasonic machining (USM) to investigate the machining performance and surface modification on Al–Zn–Mg alloy. In the experiment, TiC particles were added into the dielectric to explore the influence of the combined process on the material removal rate (MRR), the relative electrode wear ratio (REWR), the surface roughness and the expansion of the machined hole. The elemental distributions of titanium and carbon on the cross-section were quantitatively determined using an electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). Microhardness and wear resistance tests were conducted to evaluate the modifications on the machined surface caused by the combined process. The experimental results show that the combined process was associated with improved machining performance. The combination of EDM with USM yielded an alloyed layer that improved the hardness and wear resistance of the machined surface.     

EDM performance of Cr/Cu-based composite electrodes

Electrode materials for electrical discharge machining (EDM) are usually graphite, copper and copper alloys because these materials have high melting temperature, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. The electrodes made by using powder metallurgy technology from special powders have been used to modify EDM surfaces in recent years, to improve wear and corrosion resistance. However, electrodes are normally fabricated at high temperatures and pressures, such that fabrication is expensive. This paper proposes a new method of blending the copper powders contained resin with chromium powders to form tool electrodes. Such electrodes are made at low pressure (20 MPa) and temperature (200 °C) in a hot mounting machine. The results showed that using such electrodes facilitated the formation of a modified surface layer on the work piece after EDM, with remarkable corrosion resistant properties. The optimal mixing ratio, appropriate pressure, and proper machining parameters (such as polarity, peak current, and pulse duration) were used to investigate the effect of the material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR), surface roughness, and thickness of the recast layer on the usability of these electrodes. According to the experimental results, a mixing ratio of Cu–0wt%Cr and a sinter pressure of 20 MPa obtained an excellent MRR. Moreover, this work also reveals that the composite electrodes obtained a higher MRR than Cu metal electrodes; the recast layer was thinner and fewer cracks were present on the machined surface. Furthermore, the Cr elements in the composite electrode migrated to the work piece, resulting in good corrosion resistance of the machined surface after EDM.     

Investigation of the effects of electrode orientation and fluid flow rate in near-dry EDM milling

This research investigates the effects of electrode lead and tilt angles and dielectric fluid flow rate on material removal rate, tool electrode wear ratio, and surface roughness in near-dry electrical discharge machining (EDM) milling process. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed to predict the dielectric fluid flow rate and qualitatively compare with the experimentally measured EDM material removal rate. The optimum lead angle, which maximized material removal rate and minimized tool electrode wear ratio, was found. The decrease in the lead angle has a negative effect on the roughness of machined surface. The increase in tilt angle reduces the material removal rate and increases the tool electrode wear ratio. The change in tilt angle does not have a significant effect on the surface roughness and can be used to prevent gouging in finishing EDM milling. This study shows that the material removal rate is linearly proportional to the mass flow rate of air and kerosene mixture, the tool electrode wear ratio is inversely related to the mass flow rate of air and kerosene mixture, and the average surface roughness does not have a good correlation with the flow rate of the mixture.     

The effect in EDM of a dielectric of a urea solution in water on modifying the surface of titanium

This study investigates the influence of the machining characteristics on pure titanium metals using an electrical discharge machining (EDM) with the addition of urea into distilled water. Additionally, the effects of urea addition on surface modification are also discussed. In the experiments, machining parameters such as the dielectric type, peak current and pulse duration were changed to explore their effects on machining performance, including the material removal rate, electrode wear rate and surface roughness. Moreover, the elemental distribution of nitrogen on the machined surface was qualitatively determined by EPMA to assess the effects on surface modification. Micro hardness and wear resistance tests were performed to evaluate the effects of the reinforced surface.Experimental results indicate that the nitrogen element decomposed from the dielectric that contained urea, migrated to the work piece, forming a TiN hard layer, resulting in good wear resistance of the machined surface after EDM.     

A comparative experimental study of machining characteristics in vibratory, rotary and vibro-rotary electro-discharge machining

This paper compares the effects of high- and low-frequency forced axial vibration of the electrode, rotation of the electrode, and combinations of these methods in respect of material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate and surface roughness in die sinking electro-discharge machining (EDM) with a flat electrode (planing mode).

The results of the combined states of rotation and vibration at high and low frequency (vibro-rotary EDM) are compared in order to establish which combinations are most appropriate to different machining regimes (finishing, semi-finishing and roughing). It is found that the combination of high-frequency vibration and rotation of the electrode is effective in attaining a high MRR at a specified surface roughness (R_a). This case is modelled by stepwise linear regression. The significant parameters are found by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the optimum machining parameter settings are obtained using overlay contour plots. The advantages of vibration and rotation are seen to combine in this new process when employed for die sinking EDM with a flat electrode.     

Machining characteristics of magnetic force-assisted EDM

The gap conditions of electrical discharge machining (EDM) would significantly affect the stability of machining progress. Thus, the machining performance would be improved by expelling debris from the machining gap fast and easily. In this investigation, magnetic force was added to a conventional EDM machine to form a novel process of magnetic force-assisted EDM. The beneficial effects of this process were evaluated. The main machining parameters such as peak current and pulse duration were chosen to determine the effects on the machining characteristics in terms of material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR), and surface roughness. The surface integrity was also explored by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to evaluate the effects of the magnetic force-assisted EDM. As the experimental results suggested that the magnetic force-assisted EDM facilitated the process stability. Moreover, a pertinent EDM process with high efficiency and high quality of machined surface could be accomplished to satisfy modern industrial applications.     

超声振动辅助气中放电加工实验分析

超声振动辅助气中放电加工技术避免了常用的煤油等工作液作为介质带来的环境污染问题，具有工作环境清洁、适用范围广、加工效率高、工具电极简单等优点。实验研究了电压、脉冲宽度、峰值电流、超声振幅及气体介质压力等参数对加工效率、工件表面粗糙度及电极损耗的影响．并对试验结果进行了分析。     

Anomalous influence of polarity in sink EDM of titanium alloys

An anodic tool polarity is generally adopted in sink electrical discharge machining (EDM) to maximize material removal relative to tool wear. Sink EDM of Ti and Ti6Al4V is however atypical in that these materials necessitate a cathodic tool polarity. Adding to the intrigue is γ-TiAl, which machines better under the conventional anodic polarity. This research focused on clarifying the phenomena behind this interesting behavior by investigating removal mechanisms over a range of relevant process conditions. The anomaly is demonstrated to arise from the polarity-dependent nature and extent of TiC formation on the work surface, which significantly affects material removal.     

Optimization of machining parameters in magnetic force assisted EDM based on Taguchi method

A versatile process of electrical discharge machining (EDM) using magnetic force assisted standard EDM machine has been developed. The effects of magnetic force on EDM machining characteristics were explored. Moreover, this work adopted an L18 orthogonal array based on Taguchi method to conduct a series of experiments, and statistically evaluated the experimental data by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The main machining parameters such as machining polarity (P), peak current (I_p), pulse duration (τ_p), high-voltage auxiliary current (I_H), no-load voltage (V) and servo reference voltage (S_v) were chosen to determine the EDM machining characteristics such as material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR). The benefits of magnetic force assisted EDM were confirmed from the analysis of discharge waveforms and from the micrograph observation of surface integrity. The experimental results show that the magnetic force assisted EDM has a higher MRR, a lower relative electrode wear ratio (REWR), and a smaller SR as compared with standard EDM. In addition, the significant machining parameters, and the optimal combination levels of machining parameters associated with MRR as well as SR were also drawn. Moreover, the contribution for expelling machining debris using the magnetic force assisted EDM would be proven to attain a high efficiency and high quality of surface integrity to meet the demand of modern industrial applications.     

压印模具表面织构电火花成形工艺参数的分析

在石墨电极表面制备了直径分别为ø100、ø200和ø300 μm且具有规则形貌的圆形微凹坑阵列,并使用该电极在45钢表面利用电火花成形工艺(Electrical discharge machining,EDM)制备出微凸起阵列压印模具,研究了加工电流对其表面性能的影响。采用超景深显微镜和扫描电镜对经电火花加工处理后的石墨电极和45钢试样的表面形貌进行了分析,同时采用洛氏硬度计、粗糙度测试仪和精度为0.01 mg的电子天平秤等设备对45钢表面微凸起阵列进行了检测,并讨论了加工电流对45钢的材料去除率(Material removal rate,MRR)和石墨电极的电极耗损率(Electrode wear rate,EWR)之间的影响规律。结果表明,电火花反刻原理可以在45钢表面形成尺寸相对应的微凸起阵列形貌,并得到较高的表面显微硬度和表面粗糙度值,随着电火花加工电流的增大而增大,其中,ø200 μm微凸起试样得到了最大显微硬度,为34 HRC,同时,ø300 μm微凸起试样得到了最大表面粗糙度值12.56 μm。此外,当试样微凹坑或微凸起直径一定时,随着加工电流的增大,MRR和EWR值也会随之增大。     

Machining performance on hybrid process of abrasive jet machining and electrical discharge machining

To develop a hybrid process of abrasive jet machining (AJM) and electrical discharge machining (EDM),the effects of the hybrid process parameters on machining performance were comprehensively investigated to confirm the benefits of this hybrid process.The appropriate abrasives delivered by high speed gas media were incorporated with an EDM in gas system to construct the hybrid process of AJM and EDM,and then the high speed abrasives could impinge on the machined surface to remove the recast layer caused by EDM process to increase the efficiency of material removal and reduce the surface roughness.In this study,the benefits of the hybrid process were determined as the machining performance of hybrid process was compared with that of the EDM in gas system.The main process parameters were varied to explore their effects on material removal rate,surface roughness and surface integrities.The experimental results show that the hybrid process of AJM and EDM can enhance the machining efficiency and improve the surface quality.Consequently,the developed hybrid process can fit the requirements of modern manufacturing applications.     

TC4钛合金混粉电火花表面改性研究

目的通过混粉电火花加工方法,分别使用紫铜和石墨作为工具电极,获得综合性能较好的TC4钛合金表面。方法利用手持式TR200粗糙度仪对工件表面的粗糙度进行测量,用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射仪对工件组织形貌和物相结构进行分析,用FM800型显微硬度计对工件表面进行显微硬度测量。结果在相同电参数下,紫铜电极加工的工件较石墨电极加工的工件表面粗糙度要低,硬度也相对低。当I=4.5A、tON=30?s时,紫铜电极加工的工件表面平均粗糙度值Ra=2.223?m,表面硬度约为600HV;石墨电极加工的工件表面平均粗糙度值Ra=2.796?m,表面硬度约为700HV。当I=9 A、tON=30?s时,紫铜电极加工的工件表面平均粗糙度值Ra=2.748?m,表面硬度约为650HV;石墨电极加工的工件表面平均粗糙度值Ra=3.705?m,表面硬度约为750HV。结论在不同电极条件下混粉电火花加工后,TC4钛合金工件表面都达到了强化的效果。     

High-speed EDM milling with moving electric arcs

A novel high-speed electrical discharge machining (EDM) milling method using moving electric arcs has been proposed in this study. We connected a copper electrode rotating rapidly around its axis and a work piece to a DC power supply to generate a moving electric arc. To ensure high relative speed of any point on the electrode with respect to the work piece, the electrode was shaped like a pipe. It was observed that the electric arcs move rapidly within the discharge gap due to the revolution of the tool electrode, removing the materials on the electrode along the track of the arc roots. To explore the characteristics of machining with moving electric arcs, an EDM milling apparatus was devised. Two planes with approximately the same roughness were machined separately by this equipment and a traditional EDM machine for comparison. It was found that a much higher material removal rate can be easily achieved by EDM milling with moving electric arcs. In the meanwhile, wear of the tool electrode in this new method is negligible, which is greatly favorable for machining accuracy. The microstructures of these surfaces were also investigated for further information.     

Evolutionary programming method for modeling the EDM parameters for roughness

The method of electrical discharge machining (EDM), one of the processing methods based on non-traditional manufacturing procedures, is gaining increased popularity, since it does not require cutting tools and allows machining involving hard, brittle, thin and complex geometry.

By using different EDM parameters (current, pulse on-time, pulse off-time, arc voltage), the R_a (μm) roughness value as a result of application of a number of copper electrode-hardened powder metals (cold work tool steel) to a work piece has been investigated, in this study. At the same time, roughness values obtained from the experiments that have been modeled by using the genetic expression programming (GEP) method and a mathematical relationship has been suggested between the GEP model and surface roughness and parameters affecting it. Moreover, EDM has been used by applying copper, copper–tungsten (W–Cu) and graphite electrodes to the same material with experimental parameters designed in accordance with the Taguchi method. Results obtained from this study have been compared among each other and similar studies in the literature.     

The use of the orthogonal array with grey relational analysis to optimize the electrical discharge machining process with multiple performance characteristics

In this paper a new approach for the optimization of the electrical discharge machining (EDM) process with multiple performance characteristics based on the orthogonal array with the grey relational analysis has been studied. A grey relational grade obtained from the grey relational analysis is used to solve the EDM process with the multiple performance characteristics. Optimal machining parameters can then be determined by the grey relational grade as the performance index. In this study, the machining parameters, namely workpiece polarity, pulse on time, duty factor, open discharge voltage, discharge current, and dielectric fluid are optimized with considerations of multiple performance characteristics including material removal rate, surface roughness, and electrode wear ratio. Experimental results have shown that machining performance in the EDM process can be improved effectively through this approach.     

Compound machining of titanium alloy by super high speed EDM milling and arc machining

A novel compound machining of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) by super high speed electrical discharge machining (EDM) milling and arc machining was proposed in this paper. The power supply consisted of a pulse generator and a DC power source which were isolated from each other. A rotating pipe graphite electrode was connected to the negative pole of the power supply. The plasma channel was able to deionize, and maximum material removal rate (MRR) reached 21,494 mm³/min with a relative electrode wear ratio (REWR) of 1.7% because of high current and efficient flushing. Compared with traditional EDM, the compound machining achieved a significantly higher MRR but a similar REWR. To investigate the characteristics of the compound machining, the effects of electrode polarity, peak voltage, peak current, and flushing pressure on the performance of the process, including its MRR, REWR, and radius of overcut (ROC), were determined. In addition, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microhardness analysis were conducted. Result shows that the proposed method can machine difficult-to-machine materials efficiently.     

Improvement of Dry EDM Characteristics Using Piezoelectric Actuator

This paper describes improvement of the machining characteristics of dry electrical discharge machining (dry EDM) by controlling the discharge gap distance using a piezoelectric actuator. Dry EDM is a new process characterized by small tool electrode wear, negligible damage generated on the machined surface, and significantly high material removal rate especially when oxygen gas is used. However, the narrow discharge gap length compared with conventional EDM using oil as the dielectric working fluid results in frequent occurrence of short circuiting which lowers material removal rate. A piezoelectric actuator with high frequency response was thus introduced to help control gap length of the EDM machine. To elucidate the effects of the piezoelectric actuator, an EDM performance simulator was newly developed to evaluate the machining stability and material removal rate of dry EDM.     

Studies on the material removal rate of two-phase eutectic alloys by EDM process

Two types of permanent mould materials, spheroidal graphite (SG) cast iron and Al-Si alloy with various compositions, were selected to study the effect of heterogeneous second phase on material removal rate (MRR) by the electro-discharge machining (EDM) process. Fe-Si alloy and Al-1wt%Si alloy with a mainly single-phase structure were also prepared for comparison.

Experimental results indicated that the amount and morphology of second phase particles significantly influence the material removal rate (MMR). This is closely related to ridge density and discharge density during the EDM process.

The EDMed surface of the specimens had a continuously ridged appearance and the ridge density increases with higher amount of second phase. Worthy of notice is that the graphite particles are embedded in the troughs on the EDMed surface of SG cast iron, while the eutectic silicon particles are located on the ridge region in the case of Al-Si alloys.     

Effect of electrode material on electrical discharge machining of alumina

Technologies for machining advanced insulating ceramics are demanded in many industrial fields. Recently, several insulating ceramics, such as Si₃N₄, SiC and ZrO₂, have been successfully machined by electrical discharge machining (EDM). As unstable discharges occur during the machining of Al₂O₃ ceramics, inferior machining properties have been obtained. The formation mechanism of the electrical conductive layer on the EDMed surface is much different as compared to other ceramics. In addition to this, the electrically conductive layers are not formed sufficiently to adhere to the EDMed workpiece surface and keep a stable and continuous discharge generation on the ceramics. Graphite is widely used as electrode material in EDM. It is expected that carbon from graphite electrode implant and generate a conductive layer. Copper, graphite (Poco EDM-3) and copper-infiltrated-graphite (Poco EDM-C3) electrodes were used to compare the effects of generation of a conductive layer on alumina corresponding to EDM properties. The electrical discharge machining of 95% pure alumina shows that the EDM-C3 performs very well, giving significantly higher material removal rate (MRR) and lower electrode wear ratio than the EDM-3 and copper electrodes. The value of MRR was found to increase by 60% for EDM-3 with positive electrode polarity. As for EDM-C3, MRR was increased by 80% under the same condition. When the results were investigated with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), no element of copper was observed on the conductive layer with both EDM-3 and EDM-C3. However, surface resistivity of a conductive layer created with EDM-C3 is less than with EDM-3. Surface roughness was improved to 25 μm with positive polarity of EDM-C3.