New potentials for precise ECM achieved by Orbiting-kinematics

Electrochemical machining has established itself over the past few years as a proven technology for machining hard and difficult-to-machine materials. In conventional process management, the uniaxial lowering movement results in several disadvantages like rounded outer edges at gradated parts and limited three-dimensional imaging accuracy, which are addressed with the new approach of EC-Orbiting. The main aspect of EC-Orbiting is sequential or continuous superposition of the lowering travel of the cathode with an orbital motion of the work piece to improve the overall process conditions. The paper shows the results of first experimental investigations and the impact of the EC-Orbiting to the work piece geometry.