Establishing the electrical discharges weight in electrochemical discharge drilling

The electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) offers an alternative to high technology equipments for drilling of small diameter holes in the case of difficult to machine materials. For a machining system based on the semidielectric liquid use and on the electric discharges initiated by contact break-out, the weight factor of the electrodes contact period is evaluated and the weight factor of the electrical discharges during this contact period is expressed. The paper presents some geometrical considerations which permit to conclude that the material removal rate depends on the characteristics of the motion and on some dimensions of the elements belonging to the crank mechanism. The influence of the input parameters on the axial electrode — tool wear and on the drilling speed is discussed.