Working Principle and Performance of Wire Electrical Discharge Machining

Abstract

Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is an advanced thermal machining process capable of accurately machining parts with complicated shapes, especially for the parts that are very difficult to be machined by traditional machining processes. WEDM process is based on the conventional EDM sparking phenomenon utilizing the widely accepted non-contact technique of material removal. Since the introduction of the process, WEDM has evolved from a simple means of making tools and dies to the best alternative of producing micro-scale parts with the highest degree of dimensional accuracy and surface finish quality. This author reviews the vast array of research work carried out from the EDM process to the development of the WEDM, also highlights the working principle and mechanical performance of machining conditions. A wide range of WEDM industrial applications are reported together with the development of the hybrid machining processes. The final part of the paper discusses these developments and outlines the possible trends for future WEDM research.