• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.3-10
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• 2008

Micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) is an effective method for machining all types of conductive materials regardless of hardness. Since micro-EDM is an electro-thermal process, the energy supplied by the pulse generator is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of the process. In this study, an investigation was conducted on the micro-EDM of tungsten carbide (WC) to compare the performance of transistor and resistance/capacitance (RC) pulse generators in obtaining the best quality micro-hole. The performance was measured by the machining time, material removal rate, relative tool wear ratio, surface quality, and dimensional accuracy. The RC generator was more suited for minimizing the pulse energy, which is a requirement for fabricating micro-parts. The smaller-sized debris formed by the low-discharge energy of RC micro-EDM could be easily flushed away from the machined zone, resulting in a surface free of burrs and resolidified molten metal. The RC generator also required much less time to obtain the same quality micro-hole in WC. Therefore, RC generators are better suited for fabricating micro-structures, producing good surface quality and better dimensional accuracy than the transistor generators, despite their higher relative tool wear ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.218-222
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• 2002

Micro-EDM is generally used far machining micro holes, pockets, and 3-D structures. For micro-EDM, first of all, micro-electrode fabrication is needed and WEDC system is proposed for tool electrode fabrication method. When tool electrode is fabricated using WEDG system, its characteristics are under the control of many EDM parameters. Also relations between the parameters affect electrode fabrication. In this study, experiments are carried out to analyze effects of EDM parameters about electrode surface integrity on micro-electrode fabrication. Experimental method and analysis are used to experimental design method. Factors used in experiments are composed of capacitance, resistance, pause time, wire feed rate, spindle rotating speed. As a result of experiments, capacitance and resistance affect electrode surface.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.215-216
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1244-1247
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• 2005

The material removal mechanism of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) process has been studied for several decades. However, understanding of the material removal mechanism is still a difficult problem because the mechanism involves complicated physical phenomena including plasma. Especially, for a micro-EDM process, due to the influence of the debris that is generated during the machining process, quantitative modeling of EDM becomes more complex. To understand better the effects of the debris in the micro-EDM process experimentally, a new approach has been introduced in this study. Using a specially designed workpiece holder, the debris generated during the EDM with various process conditions has been collected. Then, using a simulated environment using micro-sized metal powders, the influence of the debris during the single EDM discharge has been observed. The effects of EDM process parameters on the debris size and product quality are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2017

Micro-needles are used as transferring devices for sampling of tiny constitute substances from biological bodies. Typically, nickel is used as a coating to improve the rigidity of micro-needles. This study introduces the methodology to manufacture a WC needle with very high hardness and toughness. Micro-EDM technology was used to manufacture micro-needles with holes $130{\mu}m$ in diameter and $2300{\mu}m$ in length. A micro-needle was aligned to the micro-EDM electrode using a custom two degree-of-freedom alignment system. A three-step manufacturing technique was developed to drill a micro-hole using a WC electrode. In the first process, an electrode $105{\mu}m$ in diameter was used to make a hole. Electrodes of 90 and $105{\mu}m$ diameters were used in the second and third process, respectively. Consequently, a WC micro-needle with an inner hole of $135{\mu}m$ diameter, length of $2300{\mu}m$, and outer diameter of $300{\mu}m$ was developed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.953-956
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• 1997

Micro drilling characteristics by EDM method was investigated. In detail, Micro tool electrode for EDM drilling was machined by use of WEDG method and micro hole was drilled using the machined tool electrode in SUS plate. The machining accuracy and time was compared in a different dielectric fluid. As a result, it was convinced that this method could be utilized as a fabrication technology of micro mold or micro 3 dimensional parts.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.546-549
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• 2005

Micro EDM milling using deionized water as dielectric fluid was investigated. After machining micro grooves using deionized water with different voltage. capacitance. and resistivity of deionized water, machining characteristics were investigated. The wear of a tool electrode and the machining time can be reduced by using deionized water instead of kerosene. Micro hemispheres were machined in deionized water and kerosene and their machining characteristics were compared.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1571-1574
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• 2005

Generally, the kerosene or the deionized water has been used for dielectric fluid in the electrical discharge machining. The spark occurs when the voltage is over the breakdown voltage and induces high temperature. In this study, the Oxygen gas is used as the dielectric. The voltage behavior in the dry Micro Electrical discharge machining is compared with that of the conventional Micro Electrical discharge machining. The dry Micro EDM has some advantages. The electrode wear isvery smaller than that of the conventional Micro EDM. The contamination in the dry Micro EDM can be drastically reduced comparing to that of the conventional Micro EDM. The Oxygen gas can be replaced as the dielectric successfully.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1053-1058
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• 2007

Micro-EDM technology (or the manufacture of miniature parts is used to make a micro hole. Two electrode shaping methods, mechanical electrode grinding and WEDG technique, have been studied. In this study, an electrode shaping method by using previously machined hole is introduced in order to obtain an optimal hole-making condition. Key factors such as applied voltage, capacitance, feedrate, and hole-dimension have an influence on the fabricating error of electrode shaping, which are taper ratio of a hole, electrode form accuracy, and electrode surface. Therefore, we try to investigate the optimal fabricating of electrode shaping from various experiments. Results from experiments, it was able to minimize the electrode fabricating error as voltage increases, and also applied feedrate and capacitance decreases.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.13-20
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• 2005

Micro EDM process is generally used for machining microholes, cavities, and three dimensional shapes. For machining micro structures, first of all, micro tool electrode is indispensable and WEDG system is proposed for tool fabrication method. When using WEDG, its machining characteristics are highly affected by many EDM parameters such as applied voltage, current, rotation speed, capacitance, and pulse duration. Therefore, the design of experiment is introduced to fully understand the effect of the EDM parameters on machining tool electrode. And an attempt has been made to develop the mathematical model for predicting the size of the tool electrode by calculating spark distance. The suggested model was verified with experiment and predicted working gap distance is in good accord with the measured value.