Ultrasonic vibration-assisted electric discharge machining: A research review

Ultrasound waves are directly being used in many of the industrial applications including material removal for generating profiles on material surfaces. Trend has been shifted to use ultrasonic sound waves or ultrasonic vibrations as assisting media to enhance process performance. Electric discharge machining is one such industrial application for material removal, where ultrasonic vibrations have been introduced as assisting media for improving process performance. Ultrasonic vibrations were mainly employed in electric discharge machining process for improved debris evacuation from the sparking gap to increase process efficiency. It also resulted in stable and consistent sparking sequences by minimizing adverse arcing phenomenon in electric discharge machining. Since its introduction, technology of ultrasonic assistance in electric discharge machining has gone through considerable changes and penetrated to various variants of the electric discharge machining process mainly die sinking electric discharge machining, wire cut electric discharge machining and micro electric discharge machining. This article presents a research review for applications of ultrasonic vibrations for electric discharge machining process. The review has been carried out in terms of modes of applying ultrasonic vibrations, effect on performance parameters, process modelling and optimization and application for difficult-to-cut advanced materials. Based on the review of present status of the ultrasonic-assisted electric discharge machining, future research needs have been identified to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of the electric discharge machining process.