Electrical Discharge Grinding of Microstructures

Abstract

The paper shows the potentials of micro electrical discharge grinding (Il-EDG) for the production of microstructured tools for forming techniques. EDG is a process variant using a rotating disk electrode where the EDM process is superimposed by kinematics close to those of peripheral shape grinding. This way it is possible to manufacture long channels on large surfaces without using form electrodes. Beginning with the analytic description of characteristics and active mechanisms of Il-EDG, the influence of major parameters on process behavior is to be investigated. The objective of the experimental investigations is the determination of fundamentals for the development of compensation techniques to minimize process-caused tool wear effects on geometrical accuracy. Furthermore the influence of process technology on working results regarding obtainable surface quality and removal rate will be examined.