A Review on Alternative Approaches to Fabricate the Copper Based Electric Discharge Machining (EDM) Electrodes

Abstract

Electric discharge machining (EDM) process is the category of non-traditional and non-contact machining processes which is widely used in the industries for machining of difficult to machine materials and mainly utilized for fabrication of dies and high precision equipments. Machining performance of the EDM is mainly affected by the physical properties of the electrode. The ideal electrode of the EDM should have high electrical and thermal conductivity, high specific heat, better machinability and high wear and erosion resistance etc. DifferenttechniquescanbeusedforthefabricationoftheEDMelectrodes.Thispaperpresents the review of alternative approaches to fabricate the electric discharge machining electrodes.It has been observed from the study that the ease of fabrication, volumetric heating and good wettability are some of the major advantages of powder metallurgy route which makes ismore preferable over the other techniques for the fabrication of EDMelectrodes