Micro-Electro Discharge Machining

<p>Micro electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) is a thermo-electric and contactless</p><p>process most suited for micro-manufacturing and high-precision machining especially</p><p>when difficult-to-cut materials such as super alloys composites and electro conductive</p><p>ceramics are processed. Many industrial domains exploit this technology to fabricate</p><p>highly demanding components such as high-aspect-ratio micro holes for fuel injectors</p><p>high-precision molds and biomedical parts.</p><p>Moreover the continuous trend towards miniaturization and high precision functional</p><p>components boosted the development of control strategies and optimization</p><p>methodologies specifically suited to address the challenges in micro- and nano-scale</p><p>fabrication.</p><p>This Special Issue showcases 12 research papers and a review article focusing on novel</p><p>methodological developments on several aspects of micro electrical discharge</p><p>machining: machinability studies of hard materials (TiNi shape memory alloys Si3N4-TiN</p><p>ceramic composite ZrB2-based ceramics reinforced with SiC fibers and whiskers</p><p>tungsten-cemented carbide Ti-6Al-4V alloy duplex stainless steel and cubic boron</p><p>nitride) process optimization adopting different dielectrics or electrodes</p><p>characterization of mechanical performance of processed surface process analysis and</p><p>optimization via discharge pulse-type discrimination hybrid processes fabrication of</p><p>molds for inflatable so microactuators and implementation of low-cost desktop micro-</p><p>EDM system.</p>