Development of peeling tool for micro-EDM

We propose a simple and fast fabricating method of tool electrode for micro-EDM. A 'peeling tool', a wire coated with a different material, has been developed as an interim product for a microelectrode. A zinc layer was coated by electroplating on a tungsten electrode of 100 μm diameter. The zinc layer makes both handling and chucking of the electrode easy. Part of the zinc layer is instantly 'peeled' by a single discharge, exposing tungsten electrode under the zinc layer undamaged and the exposed electrode can be used in microhole drilling by EDM. Time-resolved imaging revealed the peeling process dynamically.