Optimization of the Wire Electro Discharge Machining Process of Boron Carbide

  1. Cabanes , I. 2
  2. Sanchez, J. A. 2
  3. De Maidagan, X. 1
  4. Lopez de Lacalle, L.N. 2
  5. Lamikiz, A. 2
  1. 1 ONA ELECTROEROSION S.A., Eguzkitza s/n, 48200 Durango, Spain
  2. 2 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

Revista:
International Journal of Electrical Machining

ISSN: 1341-7908,  2188-5117

Año de publicación: 2002

Volumen: 7

Número: 0

Páginas: 15-23

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.2526/IJEM.7.15 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: International Journal of Electrical Machining

Resumen

Final machining of ceramic components accounts in many cases for an important percentage of the final cost of the part. While diamond grinding is usually the most common solution, it shows important drawbacks related to the impossibility of generating complex shapes. Although diamond grinding will never be completely substituted, non-conventional machining methods can provide a feasible alternative. Amongst these methods, Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) is especially suited when the material shows an electrical conductivity over 0.01 S/cm. Many experiences on the EDM of conductive ceramics can be found in the literature, some of them dealing with the use of special-purpose generators. In this paper, a simple and low cost solution for the modification of the wave shape in an industrial WED M machine in order to optimise the machining of boron carbide is introduced. The results show improvements of up to 5 times the cutting speed achieved previously to the implementation of the modifications.