A Review on Current Research Trends in Micro–EDM

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705

A Review on Current Research Trends in Micro–EDM

Yashpal Singh¹, Dr. P.S. Rao²

¹ME Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NITTTR Chandigarh, India
²Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NITTTR Chandigarh, India

Abstract: Rapid advancement in manufacturing industries has given rise to miniature and lightweight products with increasing high engineering applications. Micro-EDM is mostly used machining processes without chip to fabricate desired product to be produced. In recent years, many types of research have been directed to enhance the performance of micro-EDM. A review on the research activities carried out in the micro-EDM process, is provided by this paper. The effects of dielectric fluids, pulse characteristics and ultrasonic vibration, which play a vital role in the machining performance of micro-EDM, are highlighted in this paper. Also, attempts made by various researchers to fabricate a high aspect ratio microstructure using micro-EDM are discussed. Hence, a consolidated review of this research work will enable a better understanding of the various contributions to effective implementation/application. The focuses of the review also on the optimisation of various parameters using different methods viz., Taguchi, ANN, grey relational analysis and fuzzy logic control system.

Keywords: micro-EDM; dielectric; pulse-duration; ultrasonic vibration; MRR; tool wear Taguchi method; fuzzy logic control system.

I. INTRODUCTION

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the most wildly used non-conventional material removal processes. EDM process removes metal by discharging electric current from a pulsating DC power supply across a thin interelectrode gap between the tool and the workpiece. A dielectric fluid filled the gap between electrode and workpiece becomes locally ionized at the point where the inter-electrode gap is the narrowest. This will facilitate favoring an avalanche of an electron in the electrode gap resulting in high movement of collision and causing vaporization. When more electrons are collected in the gap, the resistance drops and generates a high-energy spark. The sudden energy produced causes vapourizations of the workpiece. Of late for precision machining of parts, it is essential to maintain the least order of mechanical/thermal distortion. This call for resisting the spark intensity (in terms of current density, frequency, and related feature) leading to micro-EDM.

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