The superficial layer of parts machined by brush electro-discharge mechanical machining (BEDMM)

Abstract

The paper presents a brief study of brush electro-discharge mechanical machining (BEDMM) with an elastic, discrete electrode. This method is useful for the smoothing of free-form surfaces using a general-use electrode. It can be realized as a combination of mechanical and erosion machining or it can be effected with the same tool as an additional operation of mechanical machining that would result with additional smoothing and introduction of the compression stress into the surface layer. The surface layer created after BEDMM is featured with a considerable share of the cathode material and the obtained roughness Ra is approximately 1 μm.