Machinability for C/SiC Composite Material by Electrical Discharge Machining

Abstract

A new method was adopted in this study to machine C/SiC composite. The machinability was studied by processing some shapes in the material in this way. Small deep holes were machined firstly to test whether the copper electrode was suitable enough to be adopted in the Electrical Discharge Machining. Then holes of different diameters were processed by two kinds of electrodes to study the more appropriate electrode material by comparing machining efficiency of two electrodes. Then complicated shapes were machined based on these conditions. Finally, a simulation model was built up to study the influence of the fluid on the electrode and the workpiece in the Fluent 6.3. According to the study, Electrical Discharge Machining Technology is suitable enough to machine the hard and brittle materials like C/SiC composite and the accuracy that the error should not exceed 0.5 mm can also be guaranteed well.