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Materials used for sinking EDM electrodes: a review

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Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Over the years, sinking electrical discharge machining has become one of the most important production technologies to manufacture very accurate three-dimensional complex components on any electrically conductive material. This article reports a literature review on the diversity of conventional and non-conventional materials that are used or have potential to be used as EDM electrodes. In addition, additive manufacturing of EDM electrodes are also reviewed.

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Abbreviations

î e :

Discharge current (A)

t 0 :

Pulse interval time (μs)

p in :

Dielectric inlet pressure (Pa)

t d :

Ignition delay time (μs)

t e :

Discharge duration (μs)

t i :

Pulse duration (μs)

t p :

Pulse cycle time (μs)

u e :

Discharge voltage (V)

û i :

Open-circuit voltage (V)

V e :

Electrode wear rate (mm3/min)

V w :

Material removal rate (mm3/min)

W e :

Discharge energy (J)

EDM:

Electrical discharge machining

MRR:

Material removal rate

TWR:

Tool wear rate

ADI:

Austempered ductile iron

VWR:

Volumetric wear ratio

AM:

Additive manufacturing

RP:

Rapid prototyping

RT:

Rapid tooling

RM:

Rapid manufacturing

SL:

Stereolithography

SLS:

Selective laser sintering

SLM:

Selective laser melting

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program – PPGEM, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná – PUCPR, Av. Imaculada Conceição, 1155 - Prado Velho, Curitiba, 80.215 901, Brazil

    Tiago Czelusniak, Camila Fernandes Higa, Ricardo Diego Torres, Carlos Augusto Henning Laurindo & Fred Lacerda Amorim

  2. McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    José Mário Fernandes de Paiva Júnior

  3. IMW- Fritz-Süchting-Institut für Maschinenwesen, Technische Universität Clausthal – TUClausthal, Robert Koch Strasse, 32, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

    Armin Lohrengel

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  1. Tiago Czelusniak
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Czelusniak, T., Higa, C.F., Torres, R.D. et al. Materials used for sinking EDM electrodes: a review. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 41, 14 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1520-y

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