Impact of the shape of electrode-tool on radical overcut of micro-hole in electrochemical micromachining

Abstract

To make use of the full capability of electrochemical micro-machining (EMM), a meticulous research is needed to improve the material removal, surface quality and accuracy by optimizing various EMM process parameters. Keeping this in view, an indigenous development of an EMM machine set-up has been considered to carry out a systematic research for achieving a satisfactory control on the EMM process parameters to meet the micromachining requirements. In this study an EMM machine has been developed and experiments were conducted to study the influence of some of the major process parameters such as the machining voltage, electrolyte concentrations, the pulse-on-time and the machining current on the machining rate and accuracy. The effect of the shape of the tool electrode tips on EMM has been investigated experimentally with 304 stainless steel sheets. The machining rate and the overcut are significantly influenced by the shape of the tool electrode tip.