ABSTRACT
Machining by thermal erosion involves the application of very intensive local heat to remove the material by melting and evaporating small areas at the workpiece surface. The processes include electrodischarge machining (EDM), laser beam machining, EBM, ion beam machining, and plasma jet machining. EDM performance measures, such as material removal rate, electrode tool wear, surface finish for the energy, depend on the shape of the current pulses. When sudden contact occurs between the tool, the workpiece, a microshort circuit occurs, which contribute to the material removal process. The behavior of the work material in respect to these effects determines the material removal rate. The melted liquid is rapidly ejected and vaporized, causing a material removal rate within the range of 10 mm/min. In plasma beam machining, a continuous arc is generated between a hot tungsten cathode and a water-cooled copper anode. Ionized gas is emitted as the jet causes temperatures as high as 16,6008 C.
