Improving Process Characteristics of Dry-WEDM

Abstract

This paper describes the first attempt to conduct rough-cutting with dry wire electrical discharge machining (dry-WEDM). With the dry method, there is no corrosion, and edges can be cut more sharply than the conventional method. One drawback of the dry method however is the lower material removal rate compared to the conventional method. Moistened wire methods were thus also newly tested. It was found that the use of the least minimum dielectric liquid quantity required can improve the material removal rates of both dry-roughing and -finishing, and moreover the machining accuracy does not deteriorate to a great extent in dry-finishing.