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Abstract
Electric discharge machining (EDM) electrode design has always been an important activity in the die and mould making sector.
Nowadays, software’s are available to design electrodes. Using software, the EDM specialist has to select the areas in the mould cavity
that are to be EDM’ed. Once the areas are selected, a typical software designs an electrode along with its holder. If the mould cavity is
very complex, as is the case when the mould cavity is pre-machined by high-speed milling, the EDM specialist has to think of several
possible electrode combinations/designs and to select the best solution. He does this based on his knowledge of EDM and the knowledge
of the process capabilities of his EDM machine tool. This paper presents the basic principles of designing a knowledge based system
for automated EDM electrode design. This system works with similar logic, that an experienced EDM specialist would use to design
electrodes. First the overall methodology to design EDM electrodes automatically is described on the highest level. Then the details of this
methodology are explained followed by conclusions.
© 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
0924-0136/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2004.02.007
2 K.R. Mahajan et al. / Journal of Materials Processing Technology xxx (2004) xxx–xxx
are not considered again the second time. In actual practice, the actual number of possible electrode designs can vary
this will be done by placing history checks in the software between the minimum and the maximum. This can be ex-
to avoid re-combinations and subsequently reduced process- pressed mathematically as:
ing speed. Substituting the number of saved options n = 4,
in the equation, we get the result as: CMax ≥ N ≥ Cna Min
Areas to
Store ALL EDM
the options
(1), (2),…(n)
Disintegrate areas
Counter Select option (1) to EDM into distinct
(1),…(n) regions as much as
possible
Combine with
(2), (3), (4) next option
Yes EDM
Save this electrodes
option in a
database Figure 1 again re-produced
here to show relationship with
Figure 3
EDM
electrodes
As seen in Fig. 4, the criteria can be listed as: already considered elsewhere in the FASTOOL project. All
the other criteria listed above have been investigated and
1. EDM machining depths. converted to rules. The criteria and the conversion to rules
2. Horizontal distances between regions to EDM. are discussed next one by one.
3. Surface roughness required on the mould cavity.
4. EDM machining strategy used.
5. Machining times and costs obtained by using a certain 5.1. EDM machining depth criterion
electrode design.
6. Manufacturability of the electrode. EDM specialists in practice, use this criterion to limit
the complexity of the designed electrode from the EDM
From these criteria, the EDM machining times and costs machining point of view. When differences in machining
and the manufacturability of the electrodes have not been depths are beyond a certain limit, uneven wear occurs on
considered to convert to rules because, these two criteria are electrodes. This also means that for the next finishing EDM
operation, the number of electrodes needed for region with
longer machined depth and machining time will be higher
Distances than for region with lower machined depth and machining
Surface
between
roughness time.
regions to
required
EDM
EDM EDM 5.1.1. Converting this criterion to a rule to apply it when
machining machining designing electrodes
depths strategy
Criteria for This section describes how this criterion is converted to
grouping EDM
electrodes
a rule. Normally in practice, and based on experience a dif-
ference in machined depth of about 25–30% is allowed.
This is also because it is difficult to predict wear of EDM
Machining electrodes. Hence, to begin with a factor of 0.3 has been
Manufacturability
times and
costs
of the electrode taken. Much further research is required to predict electrode
wear. According to this discussion, the rule can be written
Fig. 4. Criteria for grouping/designing electrodes. as hmax × 0.7 = hmin , where hmax is the depth of region 1
K.R. Mahajan et al. / Journal of Materials Processing Technology xxx (2004) xxx–xxx 5
while hmin is the depth of region 2 which are to be combined 5.4. EDM machining strategy criterion
with each other. The values of the machined depths can be
found out by performing geometric analysis using software. Different EDM machine tool makes have different capa-
The rule will remain valid (consequently combining the bilities in terms of machining strategies available. However,
two regions) when the above equation is satisfied and vice the most common strategies available on most machine
versa. tools and the ones most commonly used are deep sinking,
conical orbiting movement and the star-like orbiting move-
5.2. Horizontal distances between regions to ment. Some new EDM machine tools have the 3D-orbiting
EDM criterion movement as an extended machining strategy. This cri-
terion has been added to this system of designing EDM
In practice, there are two factors the EDM specialist will electrodes because some of the strategies create geometric
use when combining electrodes as far as horizontal distances errors during/after EDM’ing. These errors can be com-
are considered. The first one is the maximum allowable over- pensated/eliminated by the use of alternative machining
all dimension of the electrode that can be safely clamped in strategies and solutions. However alternative machining
the EDM machine tool’s automatic tool changer (ATC) sys- strategies and solutions (may) call for additional number of
tem and secondly the size of the pallet system on which the EDM electrodes during EDM’ing. For instance pure deep
electrodes are placed (which are used to transport electrodes sinking calls for a higher number of electrodes increasing
for measurement, etc.). The pallet system has been added the EDM time and overall costs while orbiting EDM re-
because nowadays even small to medium sized tool and die quires less number of electrodes while resulting in lower
making companies shift to standardization practices. EDM machining times and costs.
5.2.1. Converting this criterion to a rule to apply it when 5.4.1. Converting this criterion to a rule to apply it when
designing electrodes designing electrodes
In this, one electrode is designed (by combining two re- The system has been designed to take into consideration
gions) and the overall size (L (mm) × B (mm) × H (mm)) differences in the capabilities of EDM machine tools in
is saved. Then, from the pallet size and the maximum al- terms of machining strategies and the user choices in terms
lowable electrode dimensions in the ATC system, we select of quality requirements of the mould cavity. The first inputs
the smallest overall dimension. We select the smallest one to this system are the two regions which are to be designed
because we can then compare this smallest one with the as one electrode (e.g. regions 1 and 2). These regions will
overall size of the combined electrode. If the combined have undergone a geometry analysis on the highest level.
size of the designed electrode is smaller than the selected The user on the highest level will have selected the regions
smallest, then this rule is valid and vice versa. where he wishes to have special quality requirements from
the mould cavity (examples are near sharp corners and
5.3. Difference in surface roughness criterion limits on the values of the allowable geometric errors) and
the EDM machine tool he wishes to use. This information
There are several examples of mould cavities in industry will be brought from the highest level to this level of EDM
where different parts of a cavity have different surface rough- electrode design. Details are avoided here and are available
ness requirements. In such cases one electrode can never be from the author on request. In brief, the general idea is
designed for two regions with different surface roughness that depending on the mould quality requirements and the
requirements. This is due to the fact that different surface selected EDM machine tool, the system will search for so-
roughness requirements call for different process parameters lutions and automatically assign additional number of EDM
during the EDM operation. electrodes and the machining strategies to use.
During disintegrating the regions, the rules do not have TOOL project, this knowledge based system can be expected
to be applied in a specific sequence. However, during the to work in a semi-automatic fashion in a very good way. The
re-grouping procedure, these rules are applied in a specific user (by then the EDM specialist would not be required) will
order of importance. This order of importance is actually only have to separate the areas he wants to EDM. The system
the order of the weight each rule carries when allowing a will then by itself be able to design “feasible” electrodes. The
combination. For example, the surface roughness rule will system has been designed to take care of differences in EDM
not allow a combination of two regions in any case. Hence machine tools, that makes it quite unique. This system proves
it is wise to always keep such regions separate from each to be an important development in modern tool manufacture.
other no matter what the result of applying other rules is.
Hence, during the re-group procedure the rules are applied Further reading
in the following order one by one: Electrode design software Power Shape® or commonly
known as PS electrode, 2003. http://www.delcam.com.
(1) Surface roughness rule.
Electrode design software Quick electrode® , 2003.
(2) EDM machining depth rule.
http://www.cimatron.com.
(3) Horizontal distances between regions to EDM rule.
X.M. Ding, J.Y.H. Fuh, K.S. Lee, Computer-aided EDM
(4) EDM machining strategy rule.
electrode design, Comput. Ind. Eng. 42 (2002) 259–269.
The re-grouping will take place according to the procedure K.R. Mahajan, Towards knowledge-based design of EDM
explained in Fig. 3. electrodes for pre-milled mould cavities, Master’s Research
Thesis, PT 03.082, Section Production Technology and In-
dustrial Organization, Delft University of Technology, The
7. Conclusions Netherlands, 2003.
FASTOOL Project Proposal, TNO Industrial Technology,
In this paper the basic principles of designing a knowl- The Netherlands, 2002.
edge based automatic EDM electrode design system were B. Lauwers, Computer-aided process planning and man-
explained. The success of this system depends to some extent ufacturing for electrical discharge machining, Ph.D. Thesis,
to the radius detection software algorithm. Although diffi- 93 D5, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Katholieke
cult to implement, this software algorithm is not impossible Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, 1993.
to realize. In principle the system can also accommodate a F. Staelens, Overall on-line optimization of planetary elec-
section to predict EDM machining times and the amount of tro discharge machining, Ph.D. Thesis, 90 D2, Department
electrode wear. This would enable to determine the number of Mechanical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,
of subsequent electrodes needed in view of required geomet- Belgium, 1990.
ric accuracy of the cavity. Some preliminary work in these T. Altan, B.W. Lilly, J.-P. Kruth, W. König, H.K. Tönshoff,
directions has been performed but many particularities of C.A. Luttervelt, A.B. van Khairy, Advanced techniques for
EDM machining have to be researched. Outside the FAS- die and mould manufacturing, Ann. CIRP 42 (2) (1993) 707.