The investigation of discharge restriction mechanism of the floating workpiece based electrostatic field-induced electrolyte jet (E-Jet) EDM

In this paper, issues concerning the discharge deviation of the electrostatic field-induced electrolyte jet (E-Jet) electrical discharge machining (EDM) have been discussed. To restrict the discharge deviations, the floating workpiece and the assisted tool electrode are introduced into the E-Jet EDM system. The experimental results have shown that the discharges can be restricted at the nearest point from the tip of the fine jet on the workpiece. The controllable cave and continuous homogeneous linear groove machined verified this method can prohibit the deviation of the discharges. The simulation results of electric parameters on the workpiece have demonstrated the induced electric potential, the electric field intensity and the electric displacement field intensity are distributed in concentric circles with the peak values at the centers and gradients sharply decreasing with the increase of distance away from the center. The simulation, together with the experimental results, has revealed the discharge concentration mechanism of this improved E-Jet EDM.