The Effect of Electrode Polarity on Electrical Discharge Machining Performance in Water

Practical utilization of ram type electrical discharge machining in uninflammable fluid has been expected in place of inflammable kerosine type fluid for unmanned operation in a workshop. The electrical discharge machining performance in deionized water is experimentally investigated on the basis of the analysis of the crater generated by a single pulse discharge. The experimental analysis makes it clear that the electrical discharge machining performance in deionized water is greatly affected by the electrode polarity. The metal removal rate in the normal polarity machining is higher than that in reverse polarity machining, while the electrode wear rate in the normal polarity machining is greater than that in reverse polarity machining. Therefore the electrode polarity should be properly selected according to the purpose of machining.