Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a feasible modern machining method to machine electrically conductive materials with relatively simple/inexpensive tool-electrodes. It can achieve complex geometries or intricate three-dimensional shapes on difficult-to-machine materials regardless of their machinability indices. Moreover, many process variants such as wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), die sinking EDM, EDM drilling, EDM milling, Electrical Discharge Grinding, and µEDM processes have been successfully developed. In addition to these electrical discharge machining processes, an emerging area, called the hybrid electrical discharge machining process is gaining the attention of the research community across the world. The principal form of material removal is its melting and vaporization, caused by electrical discharge. Therefore, in this chapter, the mechanism of material removal in the electrical discharge machining process based on electro-thermal theory is explained and discussed in detail.