A REVIEW ON ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING SERVOMECHANISM SYSTEM

Abstract

Electrical discharge machining is a non-contact process based on thermoelectric energy between the electrode and workpiece. It is an efficient machining process to machine an advanced difficult-to-machine material with high precision, complex shapes and high surface quality. Realizing the advantages and abilities of this machining method, electrical discharge machining research has drawn an interest of many researchers. This paper reviews on the electrical discharge machining process, recent research fields and inventions that have been developed in order to improve workpiece surface quality and integrity, machining time, tool wear and material removal rate. Then, electrical discharge machining apparatus and its servomechanism system including the mechanical structure developments using computer numerical control, lead-screw mechanism, linear motor driven and piezoelectric actuator are reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, control strategies that were applied in electrical discharge machining system including servo-drive control and optimization techniques such as fuzzy, genetic algorithm and artificial neural network are also discussed.