ABSTRACT
Electro-discharge machining (EDM) is among the most widely used nonconventional processes used in die-making, aerospace, sports, medicine, and other industries for removing material and producing micro-machined surfaces with intricate shapes. The process has gained popularity for its ability to deform difficult-to-machine materials with ease resulting in superfinished surfaces. The process possesses demerits like less machining rate (MR) with more tool wear. Improving the machining capabilities of the process has gained much focus from researchers recently. Hybrid machining approaches can overcome the inherent drawbacks in the process. There has been continuous development in the process of EDM, some of which include wire EDM, powder mixed EDM (PMEDM), micro-EDM, nanoEDM, magnetic field assisted EDM, machining using composite tools made using powder metallurgy route. The present chapter focuses on increasing the manufacturing efficiency, geometrical accuracy, and surface properties of micro-machined surfaces generated using powder-mixed micro-EDM. In PMEDM, an appropriate powder is added to the dielectric fluid causing 372rapid sparks and erosion from the desired surface. A review will be presented on the application of PMEDM for micromachining. The study will focus on the influence of adding powders, types of powders, size of powders, surface modifications, and geometrical accuracy achieved by the process.
