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Water spray electrical discharge drilling of WC-Co to prevent electrolytic corrosion

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Abstract

In this study, electrical discharge drilling (ED-drilling) with water spray for suppressing electrolytic corrosion was investigated. The water spray is composed of tap water and compressed air. In conventional ED-drilling with tap water, the machining results suffer from electrolytic corrosion resulting in poor accuracy because cobalt, which is the bonding material in WC-Co, is easily dissolved in water. The use of water spray instead of tap water prevented electrolytic corrosion around the machined holes without deterioration in the machining speed. The machining characteristics such as corrosion prevention effects, machining rate and electrode wear were investigated according to water spray conditions such as water flow rate and air flow rate. Using the water spray with air flow rate of 1500 ml/min and water flow rate of 60 ml/min, electrolytic-corrosion-free holes were successfully machined on WC-Co. The new machining method was applied to a die-making process with high accuracy and no corrosion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea, 151-742

    Ki Young Song & Chong Nam Chu

  2. School of Robot and Automation Engineering, Dongyang Mirae University, 445 Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, Korea, 152-714

    Do Kwan Chung

  3. Dept. of Mechanical System Design Eng., Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 232 Gongreung -no, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea, 139-743

    Min Soo Park

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  1. Ki Young Song
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  2. Do Kwan Chung
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  4. Chong Nam Chu
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Correspondence to Do Kwan Chung.

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Song, K.Y., Chung, D.K., Park, M.S. et al. Water spray electrical discharge drilling of WC-Co to prevent electrolytic corrosion. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 13, 1117–1123 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-012-0147-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-012-0147-7

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