Micro-Electro Discharge Machining: Principles Recent Advancements and Applications

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