7 Must-Have Books about Electric Discharge Machining
Electrical discharge machining (EDM)—also known as spark eroding and machining, wire erosion, or die sinking—is a thermal cutting process used in many industries. From aerospace to gas turbine development, EDM is growing in popularity in the manufacturing industry, thanks to the process’ capability to cut complex shapes and achieve extra-tight tolerances.
Although EDM is considered a machining process, it is a non-traditional process because unlike other machining processes, it does not use mechanical force. EDM removes material by either shaving or carving. This is accomplished by a rapid current voltage that is discharged and travels rapidly and repeatedly through either graphite or soft metal electrodes to generate high frequency sparks that ultimately develop the form in metal.
EDM applications require a lot of fluid because the process is so hot. Dielectric fluid is the solution and is used for multiple reasons. The dielectric fluid acts as a current conductor, cools all the working parts and removes debris.
Check out this video to understand electric discharge machining on a deeper level.
EDM machines
There are two main types of EDM machines that perform thermal metal cutting processes.
Sinker (conventional) EDM machines are great if you’re in the business of making complex shapes. Sinker EDM machines use an electrode in a distinctive shape that sinks, hence its name sinker, deep into the metal, thus forming the metal. In other words, a negative impression of the electrode’s distinctive shape is molded into the material.
Conventional or sinker EDM processes are ideal for developing dies and molds. They are also useful machines for engine part work and are therefore frequently used in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Wire EDM machines use a heated wire as the electrode which creates an electrical discharge between the wire and workpiece. Unlike what many people tend to think, the shaping action is actually carried out by the electrodes coming out of the wire, not the wire itself. Wire EDM machines are commonly used for extrusion dies.
Sinker EDM vs Wire EDM
Each approach to electrical discharge machining comes with its own sets of advantages and disadvantages. Traditional EDM machines can require a significant amount of maintenance because of their susceptibility to erosion. The traditional EDM process also involves a decent amount of pre-machining since the electrodes have to be a particular shape, which doesn’t make the process ideal for time sensitive projects.
This is not the case with wire EDM. Wire EDM starts as soon as the wire is in place so there really isn’t much pre-machining to be done. For this reason, wire EDM is said to be a simpler production process and not as high maintenance as its traditional counterpart.
Recommended reads
These books are valuable for anyone who is curious about this machining process. The variety of electric discharge machining topics covered in the list below make it easy to pick out a book that interests and benefits you the most.
Electrical Discharge Machining: Types, Technologies and Applications
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the various types, technologies and applications of EDM. It serves as a reference for students, academics, researchers, engineers, and working professionals in non-traditional manufacturing related industries.. Click the link to check out what the different chapters cover.
Analysis of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) Process
This book is meant for students, research scholars and teachers using the EDM process. In order to improve the technological performance during the EDM process, it is essential to understand the formation distribution size and the structure of cracks to distinguish between fatigue cracks and EDM cracks. This book covers it all.
Thermal Metal Cutting Processes
This book covers the basic principles of different thermal cutting processes with a lot of depth and breadth. The book is targeted for students, researchers, practicing engineers and professionals in the metal cutting industry.
Drop Forging, Die Sinking and Machine Forming of Steel
This vintage book contains a comprehensive guide to accurate tool and die making, steel treatment, drop forging, die sinking, power presses, and shop practice for the production of duplicate metal parts. It contains many illustrations and is full of invaluable tips. This volume will be of considerable utility to the modern reader with an interest in metalworking.
Spark Erosion Machining: MEMS to Aerospace
This book bridges the gap as limited resources are available on comprehensive coverage of spark erosion machining (SEM) based processes. It provides a vast amount of information on recent spark erosion machining research. It also serves as a resource for specialized applications of spark erosion machining and its variants, making it great for students and faculties involved with advanced machining processes.
Development & Optimization of Triangle Cut by WEDM Machine Parameters: Optimization of Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Parameters
The objective of this book was to investigate the effects of the various wire EDM process parameters on the machining quality and to obtain the optimal sets of process parameters so that the quality of machined parts can be optimized.
WIRE ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING: Empirical Study and Optimization
In this book, the material removal phenomenon and tools used to accomplish the WEDM process are completely broken down. Various cutting parameters of WEDM, namely pulse on time, pulse off time, servo voltage spark or cutting voltage, cutting speed, dielectric pressure, and wire tension are primarily involved and controlled during machining of the conductive workpieces.
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