μECM process investigation considering pulse signal features and EDL capacitance

Abstract

Micro-electrochemical machining (μECM) is a controlled anodic dissolution process between electrodes. The anodic dissolution, which follows Faraday’s laws of electrolysis, depends on characteristics of the electrodes materials, electrolyte properties, and pulse signal features. μECM is a challenging multidisciplinary task in which quality of the process and features of the finished products depend on a complex relation between different machining parameters including, electrical features of pulse signal, chemical features of electrolyte, physical features of tools, and thermodynamic features of the process. In this paper, influential machining parameters will be reviewed briefly, and pulse signal features will be investigated and analyzed considering the behavior of the electrode-electrolyte interface. The interface has capacitive feature and plays an important role in micromachining performance. The proposed simulation work presents the requirement for the pulse on-time in order to provide the maximum possible charging-discharging time for the capacitive behavior of the electrode-electrolyte interface.