Performance study of micro-electrical discharge machining and micro-electrochemical machining combined machining for 3D micro-structures based on high-temperature nickel alloy

This paper presents a combined machining method for 3D micro-structures of high temperature nickel alloy material. These processes that consist of micro-EDM shaping and micro-ECM finishing are carried out in sequence on the same machine tool with the same electrode but different dielectric medium. The combined machining performance is investigated experimentally by different machining methods such as drilling and milling. The surface quality is improved by applying micro-ECM finishing. Meanwhile, the size and shape of the workpiece is controlled precisely by proper machining conditions, which is much better than that machined only by conventional micro-ECM, and it is resulted from the decreasing stray current corrosion. The machining efficiency and mechanical property of the workpiece is improved, which compared with conventional micro-EDM and micro-ECM independently. It proves that this combined machining method is possible and useful in the field of 3D micro-structure machining for special materials.