Application of Electrochemical Discharge Machining to Micro-Machining of Quartz

Abstract:

Electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) is the preferred non-traditional process technology in recent years, The main processing is applied to machining non-conductive hard brittle materials. This study investigated the precision and stability of quartz fabricated by ECDM and explored the optimal processing parameters including size of electrode, machining speed as well as pulse-on and pulse-off duration. Microgrooves machined under the optimal processing parameters with adjusted rotational speed and feed rate were examined to understand the effect of different ECDM parameters on machining performance. The results indicate that micro-holes of better morphology could be obtained under pulse voltage of 40 V, electrolyte concentration of 5 M, electrode size of 125 μm. Moreover, rotational speed of 1500 rpm and pulse-on/pulse-off (ms) ratio of 1:0.6 gave higher machining accuracy with smaller hole diameter and shorter machining time. Finally, microgrooves machined under the optimal processing parameters showed the best accuracy in dimension and cross-sectional morphology at rotational speed of 2500 rpm, pulse-on /pulse-off (ms) ratio of 1:1.6, and feed rate of 3000 μm/min.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 939)
• Pages: 161-168
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.939.161
• Online since: May 2014
• Authors: Kun Ling Wu*, Hsin Min Lee, Kuan Hwa Chin
• Keywords: ECDM, Microgroove, Micro-Hole, Quartz

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