Abstract

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is a well-established machining process in which material is gradually removed during an electrical discharge process to form a desired shape. There are a number of factors that impact the efficiency and surface finish quality of the EDM process. In this paper, background of the EDM and such factors are discussed, followed by a review of different control methods that have been proposed in the literature for the EDM process. The control methods are categorised into four classes, namely the methods that are based on electrode movement control, on-time power control, pulse number control, and cracks prevention. The most commonly used EDM control methods belong to the family of methods that work based on directly controlling the movements of electrode. In such methods, the control is mainly based on direct comparison of some measured signal(s) such as voltage or current with some references. More recent designs include pulse discrimination methods and fuzzy logic controllers. The article presents some promising patents on a survey of control methods for electrical discharge machining process

Keywords: Electrical discharge grinding, electrical discharge machining, wire electrical discharge machining, electrical discharge, spark-erosion, spark machining, plasma, electric Arc, Die sinking, wire erosion, pulse discrimination, fuzzy controller