Manufacturing of a micro-tungsten carbide electrode using a supersonic-aided electrolysis process

Abstract

In this study, a novel micromachining technology for fabricating micro parts was described. The original diameter of a tungsten carbide rod was 3 mm, and it was first processed to a rod with a diameter of 50 µm by a precision-grinding process. It could then be machined to the desired diameter by a supersonic-aided electrolysis process. A high-aspect ratio of the micro-tungsten carbide rod was easily obtained by this process. The surface roughness of the sample that was processed by electrolysis with supersonic-aided agitation was compared with that of the sample obtained without agitation. The machined surface of the sample was smooth, and the reason may be that ionized particles in the anode could be removed by supersonic-aided agitation during the electrolysis process. A microelectrode with a tip of approximately 1 µm could be obtained by this process.

Manufacturing of Micro Drill with Electrochemical Etching

“…Tungsten carbide has the good stiffness; it is often used as tool in traditional machining. Micro rods can be etched to small size with electrochemical electrolysis process [8]. In this study, an electrochemical etching technology of precision grinding, super sonic agitation was adapted to process the tungsten carbide drill.…”

Carbon fibres covered with nickel layer as tool electrodes in micro-electrical discharge machining

“…Niekiedy wykonanie samej elektrody narzędziowej jest trudne i wymaga wielu operacji [3][4][5]. Przygotowanie jednej mikroelektrody może trwać nawet kilkadziesiąt minut [6][7]. W związku z tym zastosowanie włókien węglowych jako elektrod narzędziowych w µEDM jest korzystne nie tylko ze względu na wymiary rzędu pojedynczych µm, ale również na dużo krótszy czas przygotowania ich do pełnienia funkcji elektrod [8][9][10].…”