Study of the Development of EDM Electrodes by RP Associated with Electroforming and Investment Casting

• Main Authors: Ming-Yi Lai, 賴明誼
• Other Authors: Chun-Yao Hsu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/88186366599137794483

碩士 === 龍華科技大學 === 機械系碩士班 === 93 === The aim of this study is to prepare EDM electrode prototype by using a Rapid Prototyping (RP) system associated with electroforming and investment casting technologies to sequentially complete the development of EDM electrodes, to shorten an electrode manufacturing process and to lower the manufacturing duration and the cost for electrodes. Pro/E 3D CAD system was employed to draw the electrode prototype and transform CAD Model into the file of STL (Stereo Lithography) format. A Zcorp 402 3DP rapid prototyping machine was adopted to make a gesso powder model with a complex appearance. After the sealing process by resin permeating, the water-resisting property and strength of gesso material were improved; then, electroless plating (Nickel plating) was carried out to introduce electric conductivity onto the surface of gesso electrode, followed by copper electroforming of the thickness of 1 mm to obtain the EDM electrode. The other manufacturing process was to make the wax model with a resin permeation strengthened gesso electrode by the casting of vulcanization silicone molding. Afterward the copper electrode was prepared by using investment casting technology. In addition, EDM tests were performed to indicate that electrodes manufactured in both processes displayed promising electrical discharge machining effects.