Experimental Study on Unsynchronized Ultrasonic Assistance of Electro Discharge Machining Process

The paper deals with experimental study on unsynchronised (out of phase) ultrasonic assistance (US) of electrical discharge machining (EDM) process, considering finishing and semi-finishing operations. The main output technological parameters at classic EDM are not as good as they are expected due to instability of material removal process and long duration of gas bubble formed around plasma channel. The US longitudinal oscillations of electrode-tool produce cavitation within frontal working gap leading to collective implosion of gas bubbles. This hydraulic phenomenon can remove the workpiece material in solid or plastic state or even in liquid state. The goal of our study is to emphasize and quantify the influence of US assistance into EDM process and also to determine a correlation between EDM and US parameters, considering an unsynchronised condition. Nevertheless some optimization conditions of working parameters are needed to attain notable expected performances. From experimental data analysis, it can be noticed that significant growth in process productivity is achieved when EDM process frequency is equal with the ultrasonic assistance frequency.