Electrochemical discharge machining: trends and development

Abstract

The fabrication of microscale products revolutionizes the way manufacturing industries work today and has become the demand of current era due to their applications in various fields like microfluidics, biomedical testing systems, and microelectromechanical systems. Current research interest of manufacturing industries has shifted toward micromanufacturing process development. Electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) is one of such recently developed process well known for its capability to machine both conductive as well as nonconductive materials. This process evolved from combination of electrodischarge machining and electrochemical machining. This hybrid machining process becomes an attractive technology due to its process simplicity and application in fabrication of microscale features and three-dimensional structures. This chapter will be focusing on the state-of-the-art review of the ECDM processes and its recent development. Various form of this process such as ECDM turning, ECMD-milling, and ECDM grinding will be presented in this chapter. Based on the research found in the literature, limitation associated with ECDM process will be demonstrated, and future research trend for overcoming these drawbacks will be narrated.