1Description and Development of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)Description and Development of 1Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)DEFINITION OF EDMElectrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is the process of machiningelectrically conductive materials by using precisely controlled sparksthat occur between an electrode and a workpiece in the presence of adielectric fluid. The electrode may be considered the cutting tool. Figure1-1 illustrates the basic components of the EDM process.Die-sinking (also known as ram) type EDM machines require the electrodeto be machined in the exact opposite shape as the one in theworkpiece. Wire-cut EDM machines use a continuous wire as the electrode.Sparking takes place from the electrode wire-side surface to theworkpiece.EDM differs from most chip-making machining operations in thatthe electrode does not make physical contact with the workpiece formaterial removal. Since the electrode does not contact the workpiece,EDM has no tool force. The electrode must always be spaced awayfrom the workpiece by the distance required for sparking, known asthe sparking gap. Should the electrode contact the workpiece, sparkingwill cease and no material will be removed. There are some EDMmachines that do allow the electrode to contact the workpiece. Thesemachines are used primarily for removing broken taps and drills andare not considered die-sinker or wire-cut types of EDM machines.Another basic fundamental of the process is that only one sparkoccurs at any instant. Sparking occurs in a frequency range from 2,000to 500,000 sparks per second causing it to appear that many sparks areoccurring simultaneously. In normal EDM, the sparks move from onepoint on the electrode to another as sparking takes place. Figure 1-2illustrates that each spark occurs between the closest points of the electrodeand the workpiece.2Electrical Discharge MachiningThe spark removes material from both the electrode and workpiece,which increases the distance between the electrode and the workpieceat that point. This causes the next spark to occur at the next-closestpoints between the electrode and workpiece. Figure 1-3 illustrates howthis works.EDM is a thermal process; material is removed by heat. Heat is introducedby the flow of electricity between the electrode and workpiecein the form of a spark. Material at the closest points between the electrodeand workpiece, where the spark originates and terminates, areheated to the point where the material vaporizes.While the electrode and workpiece should never feel more thanwarm to the touch during EDM, the area where each spark occurs isvery hot. The area heated by each spark is very small so the dielectricFigure 1-1. Basic components of EDM.3Description and Development of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)fluid quickly cools the vaporized material and the electrode andworkpiece surfaces. However, it is possible for metallurgical changes
to occur from the spark heating the workpiece surface.
A dielectric material is required to maintain the sparking gap between
the electrode and workpiece. This dielectric material is normally
a fluid. Die-sinker type EDM machines usually use hydrocarbon oil,
while wire-cut EDM machines normally use deionized water.
The main characteristic of dielectric fluid is that it is an electrical
insulator until enough electrical voltage is applied to cause it to change
into an electrical conductor. The dielectric fluids used for EDM machining
are able to remain electrical insulators except at the closest
points between the electrode and the workpiece. At these points, sparking
voltage causes the dielectric fluid to change from an insulator to a
conductor and the spark occurs. The time at which the fluid changes
into an electrical conductor is known as the ionization point. When the
spark is turned off, the dielectric fluid deionizes and the fluid returns
to being an electrical insulator. This change of the dielectric fluid from
Figure 1-2. Sparking occurs at closest points between the electrode and
workpiece.
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Electrical Discharge Machining
an insulator to a conductor, and then back to an insulator, happens for
each spark. Figure 1-4 illustrates the EDM spark occurring within an
ionized column of the dielectric fluid.
Dielectric fluid used in EDM machines provides important functions
in the EDM process. These are:
• controlling the sparking-gap spacing between the electrode and
workpiece;
• cooling the heated material to form the EDM chip; and
• removing EDM chips from the sparking area.
As each spark occurs, a small amount of the electrode and workpiece
material is vaporized. The vaporized material is positioned in the spark-
Figure 1-3. Next spark occurs at closest points between electrode and
workpiece.
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Description and Development of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)
ing gap between the electrode and workpiece in what can be described
as a cloud. When the spark is turned off, the vaporized cloud solidifies.
Each spark then produces an EDM chip or a very tiny hollow
sphere of material made up of the electrode and workpiece material.
Figures 1-5, 1-6, and 1-7 illustrate the spark producing the vapor cloud,
the cloud in suspension, and the vaporized cloud being cooled and
forming into an EDM chip.
For efficient machining, the EDM chip must be removed from the
sparking area. Removal of this chip is accomplished by flowing dielectric
fluid through the sparking gap.
EDM is sometimes referred to as spark machining, arc machining,
or even burning. Spark machining and arc machining are accurate
descriptions of the process since they indicate precision and control of
the sparks used in the machining process. Burning is not an apt description
as it implies a process where combustion takes place. The term
“burning” also gives the impression that fire is involved. EDM requires
Figure 1-4. Spark occurs within a column of ionized dielectric fluid.
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Electrical Discharge Machining
Figure 1-5. Spark ON: electrode and workpiece material vaporized.
Figure 1-6. Spark OFF: vaporized cloud suspended in dielectric fluid.
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Description and Development of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)
a very precise flow of electricity in the form of a spark; fire is not an
accurate or acceptable description of the EDM machining process.
DEVELOPMENT OF EDM
This section will cover the early development stages of both the diesinker
and wire-cut methods of EDM.
DIE-SINKER EDM
EDM originated from the need to perform machining operations on
difficult-to-machine metals. The process was developed almost simultaneously
in the USSR and the USA at the beginning of World War II.
Figure 1-7. Spark-OFF: vaporized cloud solidifies to form EDM chip.
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Electrical Discharge Machining
EDM Development in the USSR
In 1941, the USSR was involved in World War II and critical materials
needed to be conserved. Tungsten was widely used as electrical
contact material for automotive-engine, distributor-breaker points. As
pitting occurred, the engines required maintenance. It was probable
that military vehicles would not be in service when needed. Even the
replacement of the breaker points caused valuable tungsten to be discarded.
To address this issue, the government assigned Moscow University
Professors Dr. Boris Lazarenko and Dr. Natalya Lazarenko at
the All Union Electro Technical Institute to investigate whether the
life of the components could be extended by suppressing sparking between
the breaker points.
As part of their experimentation, the Lazarenkos immersed the
breaker points in oil. They observed that, while the oil did not eliminate
the sparking, it did create more uniform and predictable sparking
and pitting, as compared to operating the breaker points in air. Figure
1-8 illustrates the immersion of the contacts.
The Lazarenkos’ experiment was not successful because it did not
develop a means for extending the life of the automotive breaker points
due to sparking. But the Lazarenkos, being very observant engineers,
decided to investigate the possibility of controlled-metal removal
through the use of sparks. Their interest intensified as they observed
that sparks could be used to remove material from tungsten. In 1943,
the Lazarenkos developed a spark-machining process with an electrical
circuit that used many of the same components as the automobile
ignition system. This process became one of the standard EDM systems
in use throughout the world. Since the Lazarenko EDM system
used resistors and capacitors, it became known as a resistor-capacitor
(R-C) circuit for EDM. Figure 1-9 illustrates this system.
The Lazarenkos continued to develop their machining system, eventually
designing an electrode-servo system that automatically maintained
the electrode-to-workpiece sparking gap during the EDM
machining cycle.
Many Lazarenko EDM machines were produced during the World
War II-years, which allowed practical machining of difficult-to-machine
metals, such as tungsten and tungsten carbide. When the process of
machining with sparks gained recognition outside the USSR, the
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Description and Development of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)
Figure 1-8. Lazarenko experiment with auto-ignition system.
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Electrical Discharge Machining
Lazarenko EDM system served as the model for most of the EDM
machines produced in Europe and Japan.
R-C-type EDM machines are still produced and used around the
world. Their use is centered on applications that require a fine surface
and the drilling of small, precise orifices.
EDM Development in the USA
At nearly the same time as when the Lazarenkos were beginning to
experiment with spark machining, and without knowledge of what was
taking place in the USSR, a company in the USA discovered a need
for a machine to remove broken taps and drills. Their products included
hydraulic valves with aluminum bodies. During the production
process, many drills and taps were being broken within the valve body.
The parts, used
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