• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.80-87
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• 2002

Tungsten carbide microshaft is used as micro-punch, electrode of MEDM (micro-electro-discharge machining), and micro-tool because it has high hardness and high rigidity. In this study, the tungsten carbide microshaft was fabricated using electrochemical machining. Concentration of material removal at the sharp edge and metal corrosion layer affect the shape of the microshaft. Control of microshaft shape was possib1e through conditioning the machining voltage and electrolyte concentration. By applying periodic voltage, material removal rate increased and surface roughness improved. The fabricated microshaft in $H_2 SO_4$ electrolyte maintained sharper end edge and better surface finish than those fabricated by other electrolytes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.245-249
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• 2002

Tungsten carbide microshaft is used as various micro-tools in MEMS because it has high hardness and good rigidity. In this study, experiments were performed to produce tungsten carbide microshaft using electrochemical machining. $H_2SO_4$solution was used as electrolyte because it can dissolve tungsten and cobalt simultaneously. Optimal electrolyte concentration and machining voltage satisfying uniform shape and large MRR of workpiece were found. For one-step machining, the immersion depth over 1 mm was selected for avoidance of concentration of electric charge at the tip of the microshaft. The limit diameter with good straightness was shown and an empirical formula for WC-microshaft machining was suggested. By controlling the various machining parameters, a straight microshaft with 30 $\mu\textrm{m}$ diameter, over 1 mm length and under 0.5$^{\circ}$ taper angle was obtained.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.370-375
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• 2010

Tungsten carbide microshaft is used as micro punch, electrode of micro electro discharge machining, and micro tool because of its high hardness and rigidity. In this research, tungsten carbide microshaft was fabricated using electrochemical machining. $H_2SO_4$ solution was used as the electrolyte because it can dissolve tungsten carbide and cobalt simultaneously. Experimentally studied were the effects of electrolyte concentration, machining time, and machining voltage on material removal rate and the shape of the microshaft. To eliminate the effects of bubbles and metal corrosion layer on microshaft shape, the machining was performed below the electrolysis voltage. Three step electrochemical process was suggested to fabricate the straight tungsten carbide microshaft. As a result, a straight tungsten carbide microshaft of $30{\mu}m$ in diameter and $500{\mu}m$ in length was obtained through the proposed three step electrochemical process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.1075-1079
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• 1995

It is difficult to machine microparts, such as microshaft and microholes, by conventional machining. Such micropart can be easily machined by EDM because it's machining force is very low. In micro-EDM, the precise electrode movement and discharge energy control are important. Therefore, high precision motion stage and EDM device with high performance is necessary. In this research, a new EDM machine was developed and microshaft and microhole, with various shape and size, was machined.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.55-61
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• 1998

Recently, the needs of machining technologies of very small parts have been increasing with advent of micro-revolution. These technologies have mostly used the method applied to semi-conductor production process such as LIGA, etc. But they have serious difficulties to settle down in terms of workpiece materials, machining thickness, 3-dimensional structure. Therefore. mciro-machining technology using EDM(Electrical Discharge Machining) was proposed. It is very difficult to machine the micro-parts (microshaft, microhole) using conventional machining. Micro-machining using BDM can machine the micro-parts easily because it requires little machining force. This MEDM(Micro-EDM) need the capabilities to move a electrode and control a discharge energy precisely, and the gap control strategy to maintain the optimal discharge condition is necessary. Therefore, in this study, the new EDM machine with high precision motion stage and high-performance EDM device was developed. Using this MEDM machine, we have machined microshaft and microhole with various shapes and sizes.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2001

We proposed a new fabrication method using electrochemical process for microshafts. This method is a kind of atomic removal process by chemical reaction. Therefore, it is possible to make thin and long shafts regardless of the stiffness of materials. Because shaping process is simply switched to polishing process by varying process conditions, we can precisely fabricate microshafts with very smooth surface. We also fabricated a very thin shaft with the diameter as small as 10$\mu$m and a microshaft with high aspect ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.50-56
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• 2001

Fabrication methods are shown to produce slender and cylindrical tungsten shafts by electrochemical etching. The shape of microshatf formed by electrochemical etching is determined by the combination of two conflicting factors, i.e., initial shape and diffusion layer. We can obtain a desirable shaft profile by adjusting the thickness gradient of diffusion layer. The diameter of microshaft is controlled by mathematical model based on relation between process parameters and diameter.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.172-178
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• 2004

Tungsten carbide microshaft can be used as various micro-tools for MEMS because it has high hardness and high rigidity. In this study, experiments are performed to produce tungsten carbide micro-shaft using electrochemical etching. H$_2$SO$_4$ solution is used as electrolyte because it can dissolve tungsten and cobalt simultaneously. Optimal electrolyte concentration and machining voltage satisfying uniform shape, good surface quality, and high MRR of workpiece are experimentally found. By controlling the various machining parameters, a straight micro-shaft with 5 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter, 3 mm length, and 0.2$^{\circ}$taper angle was obtained.