Electrochemical machining – state of the art and direction of development

Abstract

Electrochemical machining process (ECM) can be applied for efficient shaping advanced materials conducting electrical current, which are difficult or impossible for machining using conventional methods. In electrochemical machining, the workpiece is an anode and material is removed as a result of electrochemical reactions “atom by atom” without mechanical forces. This mechanism of material removal make it possible to obtain high quality of machined surface layer with uniform properties. The very important advantage of ECM process is also the fact that there is not a tool wear (working electrode – cathode), because the equivalent reaction to anodic dissolution is hydrogen generation on cathode surface and hydrogen can be easily removed from, the inter-electrode gap by electrolyte flow. Because of this advantages, the ECM process is widely applied in space, aircraft, car and electromechanical industry and research stimulating ECM development are carried out.