An Extensive Review on Sustainable Developments of Dry and Near-Dry Electrical Discharge Machining Processes

Abstract

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is very essential unconventional electrothermal machining process to machine the contour profile of hard materials in modern production industries. The liquid dielectric fluid has been replaced by the gas and minimum quantity of liquid mixed with gas (gas mist) to encourage the green machining processes. The various gases and gas mist have been used as the working fluid in dry and near-dry EDM, respectively. The research-contextual, various dielectric fluids, sustainable and innovative developments, process parameters, machining characteristics, and optimization techniques applied in various dry and near-dry EDM have been illustrated through an extensive literature survey. Future research opportunities in both dry and near-dry EDM have been summarized to promote eco-friendly EDM research activities.