Electrical Discharge-Assisted Turning for UD CFRP Under Low Voltage Condition

The demand for carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), classified as functional resins, has increased for micromachined products that are manufactured using lathes and used in the medical field. However, the problems with machining CFRP include the occurrence of burrs and deterioration of the finished dimensions owing to the significant tool wear caused by the carbon fiber. To turn CFRP and maintain high dimensional accuracy, the authors proposed a novel combination of conventional turning and electrical discharge-assisted turning (EDAT). In this study, the capability to control the machinability of EDAT under low-voltage conditions was experimentally investigated. The relationship between the discharge voltage, frequency, and depth of discharge influence of the carbon fibers was clarified.