ELECTRODE TOOL WEAR AT ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING OF SMALL DIAMETER EXTERNAL CYLINDRICAL SURFACES

Abstract

In a world where minimizing tendency is everywhere, the necessity of obtaining surfaces of small dimensions, but with similar properties and reliability as those with regular dimensions is evident. Electrical discharge machining of small diameter external cylindrical surfaces meets the minimizing tendency in industry and offers a series of outstanding advantages comparing to classical machining methods. Applying a machining pattern that uses a plate electrode having 8 sets of holes with 4 distinct diameters each, experimental tests had been done, in order to analyze and model the evolution of tool electrode wear. The wear of the tool electrode is the result of the machining process and it can be both controlled and estimated using input parameters. In this paper, a series of parameters with impact on tool electrode wear is analyzed and empirical mathematic models were determined in order to highlight certain process input factors influence on tool electrode wear degree.