An Insight on Current and Imminent Research Issues in EDM

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is an important unconventional manufacturing process which machines the workpieces by a series of recurring electrical discharges between tool and workpiece completely immersed in a dielectric. A power supply establishes an electric field between tool and workpiece while a proper gap is maintained between them by a servo controller. Electrostatic force causes electrons to get plucked out from tool and workpiece forming a channel called plasma having low dielectric strength which easily ionizes producing sparks responsible for machining the workpiece. When the power supply is withdrawn, the continuous flushing of dielectric removes the debris from machined cavity in workpiece. EDM is used in machining of dies, molds, parts of aerospace, automotive industry, and surgical components. The study presents an insight on various research issues in EDM which would help the research community to establish their research objective to investigate. Based on current research trends and need of EDM study, the chapter also proposes some important future research issues.