A Micro Investigation Into Electro Discharge Machining Industrial Applications Processing Parameters and Product Surface Profile Using Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Feed Drive

Abstract

This paper presents a micro investigation into electrodischarge-machining system, using piezoelectric ultrasonic motor feed drive. The drive was designed to improve the electrodischarge-machining servo control system stability of machining, quality of surface profiles of the machined products, and system dynamic time response. Research has been undertaken to examine the developed servo control feed drive in two industrial applications, electrodischarge-machining, and electrodischarge-texturing. Two arrangements were used, in this investigation. The existing servo control feed drive system, which uses a dc servomotor, and the developed system, which uses piezoelectric feed drive. The electrodischarge machining parameters including current level, on-off time, and duty cycle of the machining pulse were the main machining parameters of this investigation. The electron microscopic micro investigation into the machined samples showed that: piezoelectric ultrasonic feed drive showed a clear improvement in the quality of surface finish of the machined samples, due to the fast dynamic time response of the ultrasonic feed drive. This was accompanied by a notable reduction in the arcing and short-circuiting teething processes. This was verified by examining the electrode movements, the variations in the interelectrode gap voltage, current, and feedback control signals.