Multifilament carbon fibre tool electrodes in micro EDM—evaluation of process performance based on influence of input parameters

Abstract

The aim of the study was to verify the possibility of application of multifilament carbon fibre electrodes for electrical discharge machining process. In the article, the novel type of tool electrode in form of a rod that is composed of carbon fibres was proposed. The performed analysis taking into account the influence of input parameter from RC generator like voltage, capacitance and resistance along with evaluation of the process with this novel type of electrodes was considered. The manufacturing technique was assessed by analysing the geometry parameters of machined holes like diameters and maximum depth. The detailed analysis and quantitative values of the impact of each of the input factors were presented and response surfaces according to the experimental methodology were obtained. The key efficiency parameter which was expressed by material removal rate (MRR) was also calculated and compared with data for other materials used as tool electrodes that were presented previously in literature. The comparison study proved that with multifilament carbon fibre electrodes the comparable range of MRR parameter in similar electro-erosive conditions can be obtained. Thus, they can be considered as complementary material for tool electrode purposes.