ABSTRACT
Electrochemical discharge grinding (ECDG) is a hybrid of two nontraditional processes. Material is removed through the combined action of electrochemical dissolution as in electrochemical grinding (ECG), and spark erosion as in electrical discharge grinding. Like ECG, ECDG is also able to operate at a high current density and increased removal rates because the oxide layer is removed by spark erosion. Two forms of electrical energy are used to remove material with ECDG; either alternating current or pulsed direct current. Because material is not removed by mechanical means with ECDG, most applications involve the machining of very hard or fragile materials. The ECDG machines are very similar in construction to ECG machines and can be tailored to perform the same functions: face, plunge, surface, cylindrical, and internal grinding. The wheels used for ECDG are constructed of fine graphite particles and a bonding agent.
