INVESTIGATION OF MATERIAL REMOVAL RATE IN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING (EDM) OF SMALL CYLINDRICAL SURFACES.

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the most used non-traditional machining processes. In order to detach and remove the material from the workpiece surfaces, the process uses thermoelectric energy that allows the development of electrical discharges between the workpiece and a tool electrode that are positioned in a dielectric environment. The major advantages of this machining process are reflected in its capability to cut precisely, geometrically complex material regardless hardness. Electrical discharge machining can be applied to obtain cylindrical parts from a workpiece made of an electroconductive material. The paper presents the results of an investigation concerning the effect of some machining factors on the material removal rate (MRR) in electrical discharge machining (EDM) of small cylindrical surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]