Method of electrochemical machining

Abstract

The invention relates to electrochemical machining of metals and alloys and, more particularly, to high-precision dimensional electrochemical machining. The invention may be used for forming a regular nanometric and micrometric layers on an intricately shaped surface. Disclosed is a method of electrochemical machining in neutral electrolytes using current pulses which are synchronized with oscillation phases corresponding to the electrolyte pressure maximum in the interelectrode gap, wherein the oscillation mode of the machining electrode and electrode approach speed are set in a specific way for a predetermined frequency and amplitude, characterized in that the electrode approach speed is set in a way that the maximum value Pmax (t); of the electrolyte pressure at the interelectrode gap does not exceed an acceptable maximum value Pmax of the electrolyte pressure at the interelectrode gap. The present invention allows increasing precision while maintaining productivity of electrochemical machining using an oscillating machining electrode by means of adjusting the maximum pressure value and ensuring a possibility of supplying current pulses at the moments of optimal combination of the minimum interelectrode gap and maximum electrolyte pressure.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of International Application PCT / RU2010 / 000472 filed on August 20, 2010. The content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Background of the invention [0003] The present invention relates to electrochemical machining (ECM) of metals and alloys, and more particularly to high precision scale electrochemical machining. The invention can be used to form regular nanolayers and microlayers on complex shaped surfaces. [0004] The most important advantages of electrochemical machining compared to mechanical and thermal methods include the absence of tool wear and the productivity being independent of the strength and stiffness of the material to be machined. However, until the last decade, electrochemical machining has been seldom used in the finishing workpiece machining stage, because it has not been able to provide the required profiling accuracy and ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0018] The disadvantages of the above prototype samples relate to the lack of control of the maximum electrolyte pressure at the inter-electrode gap when the machining electrodes meet (oscillate), which leads to reduced machining accuracy and productivity

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