Experimental investigation into a novel configuration of hybrid laser-electrochemical micromachining process

The production of micro or sub millimeter sized components involves fabrication of sub-millimeter dimensional features on advanced materials with stringent metallurgical constraints. This puts a challenge for existing micromachining technologies such as micro-milling (tool failure), micro-EDM and laser micromachining (thermal defects). The aim of hybrid machining is to expand the boundaries of existing conventional and non-conventional machining technologies by utilizing the benefits from interaction of individual process energies. Therefore, in this work a novel configuration of hybrid laser-electrochemical micromachining is presented. This technology involves the application of laser and ECM processes along the same machining axis by means of a hybrid tubular electrode. The special tube electrode serves the function of both an ECM tool and a multimode waveguide for the laser. This technology enables application of laser as a localized heat source at higher machining depths which was difficult in the case of jet-based laser-electrochemical technology. As a proof of concept of this technology, a prototype hybrid machine tool has been developed and fundamental investigations on process-material interaction are presented.

ISBN:978-0-578-53479-4

Jaar van publicatie:2019

Toegankelijkheid:Embargoed