• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.3-6
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• 2008

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the most widespread nonconventional machining processes. Recently, a low-power micro-EDM process was introduced using a cylindrical electrode. Since its development, micro-EDM has been applied effectively to micromachining, and because the device setup for this process is simple, it is suitable for a microfactory that minimizes machines to fabricate small products economically in one system. In the EDM process, however, the electrode is also removed along with the workpiece. Therefore, the electrode shape and length vary as machining progresses. In this paper, a control method using a high speed realtime voltage measurement is proposed to regulate the rate and amount of material removed. The proposed method is based on the assumption that the volume of the workpiece removed in a single discharge pulses is nearly constant. The discharge pulses are monitored and controlled to regulate the amount of material removed. For this purpose, we developed an algorithm and apparatus for counting the number of discharge pulses. Electrode wear compensation using pulse number information was applied to EDM milling in a microfactory, in which a slight tilt of the workpiece may occur. The proposed control method improves the machining quality and efficiency by eliminating the inaccuracies caused by electrode wear and workpiece tilt.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2006년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.499-500
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• 2006

The electrode wear in micro-EDM significantly deteriorates the machining accuracy. In this regard, electrode wear needs to be compensated in-process to improve the product quality. Therefore, there are substantial amount of research about electrode wear. In this study a control method for micro-EDM using discharge pulse counting is proposed. The method is based on the assumption that the removed workpiece volume is proportional to the number of discharge pulses, which is verified from experimental results analyzing geometrically machined volume according to various number of discharges. Especially, the method has an advantage that electrode wear does not need to be concerned. The proposed method is implemented to an actual micro-EDM system using high speed data acquisition board, simple counting algorithm with 3 axis motion system. As a result, it is demonstrated that the volume of hole machined by EDM drilling can be accurately estimated using the number of discharge pulses. In EDM milling process a micro groove without depth variation caused by electrode wear could be machined using the developed control method. Consequently, it is shown that machining accuracy in drilling and milling processes can be improved by using process control based on the number of discharge pulses.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2002년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.235-240
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• 2002

In micro-EBM, it is well blown that RC circuit is suitable for discharge circuit because of its low pulse width and relatively high peak current. To increase machining speed without changing unit discharge energy, charge resistance should be decreased. But, if very low, continuous (or normal) arc discharge occurs, then increases electrode wear and reduces machining speed remarkably. In this paper, RC circuit with transistor is used to micro-EDM. Experimental results show that RC circuit with transistor can cut off continuous (or normal) arc discharge effectively if duty factor and switching period of transistor are set up optimally. Through experiments with varying charge resistance, it can be known that RC circuit with transistor has about two times faster machining speed than that of RC circuit. Especially, it has prominent rise-effect of machining speed in low unit discharge energy, so that a high-quality and high-speed micro-EDM can be realized through RC circuit with transistor.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2010년도 추계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.145-146
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• 2010

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2008

The fabrication of complex three-dimensional electrodes for micro electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) is an important issue in the field of micromachining Localized electrochemical deposition (LECD) is a simple and inexpensive technique for fabricating micro-EDM electrodes. This study presents a new process for manufacturing electrodes with complex cross-sections using masks of different shapes, In this process, a non-conductive mask is placed between an anode and cathode that are immersed in a plating solution of acidified copper sulfate. The LECD is achieved by applying a pulsed voltage between the anode and cathode, which are separated by a small distance. In this setup, the cathode is placed above the anode and the mask, so that the deposited electrode can be used directly for EDM without changing the tool orientation. We found that the microstructure of the deposited electrode is influenced by the concentration of the plating solution and organic additives. Moreover, the values of the voltage, frequency, and duty cycle of the pulsed input have significant effects on the microstructure of the fabricated electrode. Finally, the optimum values of the voltage, frequency, and duty cycle were determined for the most effective fabrication of complex-shaped electrodes.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.74-78
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• 2008

High-speed tool steels are extensively used in tooling industries for manufacturing cutting tools, forming tools, and rolls. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) has been found to be an effective process for machining these extremely hard and difficult-to-cut materials. Extensive research has been conducted to identify the optimum machining parameters for EDM with different tool steels. This paper presents a fundamental study of the surface characteristics of SKH-51 tool steel machined by micro-EDM, with particular focus on obtaining a better surface finish. An RC pulse generator was used to obtain a better surface finish as it produces fine discharge craters. The main operating parameters studied were the gap voltage and the capacitance while the resistance and other gap control parameters were kept constant. A negative tungsten electrode was used in this study. The micro-EDM performance was analyzed by atomic force microscopy to determine the average surface roughness and the distance between the highest peak and lowest valley. The topography of the machined surface was observed using a scanning electron microscope and a digital optical microscope.

• 소성∙가공
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.17-22
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• 2011

Recently, analyzing system is studying for applying to biomedical engineering field, actively. Micro fluidics control system has been manufactured using LIGA (Lithographie Galvanoformung und Abformung), Etching, Lithography and Laser etc. However, it is difficult that above-mentioned methods are applied to fabrication of precision mold master efficiently because of long processing time and rising cost of equipments. Therefore, in this study, micro EDM and micro WEDG system were developed to analyze machining characteristics with tool wear, surface roughness and process time. Then, optimal machining conditions could be obtained from the results of analysis. As the results, mold master of staggered herringbone mixer which has a high mixing efficiency, one of passive mixer of Lab-on-a-chip, could be fabricated from micro pattern(< 50um) using micro EDM successfully.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2014

Micro-holes of conductive ceramic are required in micro structures. Micro-electrical discharge machining (Micro-EDM) is an effective machining method since EDM is as process for shaping hard metals and complex-shaped holes by spark erosion in all kinds of electro-conductive materials. However, as the depth of micro hole increases, the machining condition becomes more unstable due to inefficient removal of debris between the electrode and the workpiece. In this paper, micro-EDM was performed to evaluate machining characteristic such as electrode wear, machining time, taper angle, radial clearance with varying voltage and ultrasonic vibration on 10 vol.% Carbon-nanotube reinforced conductive $Al_2O_3$ composite fabricated by spark plasma sintering in previous research.

• 한국기계가공학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.28-35
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• 2013

Micro electrical discharge machining (EDM) as a non-contact machining process is very effective for micromachining with a thin electrode because of its low machining reaction force. The micro-electrode machining device has the advantage of maintaining high precision through the whole processes and uses a feeding wire in the thin electrode tool manufacturing process. This study describes the design and evaluation of a micro-electrode machining device using optical photo-interrupter. The electrode was fabricated by reverse electrical discharge machining. The performance of designed system was evaluated to measure tension force according to feed speed of wire. This system for micro electrode fabrication proves the feasibility in the micro-EDM process of the micro holes and parts for industrial applications.

• 한국소성가공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소성가공학회 2007년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.75-78
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• 2007

Recently, the need for micro mold or micro mechanical parts has been rapidly increased. As feature size decreases, conventional machining processes show their limitation. Micro electrical discharging machining (EDM) and electrochemical machining (ECM) have many advantages in micro machining. They can be used to make structures of micro scale, or even nano scale size. In this paper, the application of micro EDM and ECM has been investigated.