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Electrical discharge grinding

Abrasive machining method where controlled spark discharges from an electrically charged, rotating wheel grinds the workpiece surface.

Beskrivning
Illustration of Electrical discharge grinding

The process

The tool consists of a disc [1], which rotates around its horizontal axis.

Connection via power supply makes the disc act as the cathode and workpiece as the anode. When the disc is brought close to the workpiece, intermittent spark discharges occur, which means that the workpiece is melted and vaporized.

The discharge is supported by a dielectric liquid [2], which in combination with the rotation of the disc helps to cool the process and carry away the removed material while the disc is moved over the workpiece. The spark gap [3] makes the machined surface is slightly below the disc's outer diameter.

It is important that the electrode, i.e., the rotating wheel is electrically conductive so it’s normally made of metal or graphite.

Advantages and disadvantages
In comparison with alternative methods
Can grind thin electrically conductive material
can grind brittle electrically conductive material