Micro-Electro Discharge Machining: Principles, Recent Advancements and Applications

Micro electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) is a thermo-electric and contactless

process most suited for micro-manufacturing and high-precision machining, especially

when difficult-to-cut materials, such as super alloys, composites, and electro conductive

ceramics, are processed. Many industrial domains exploit this technology to fabricate

highly demanding components, such as high-aspect-ratio micro holes for fuel injectors,

high-precision molds, and biomedical parts.

Moreover, the continuous trend towards miniaturization and high precision functional

components boosted the development of control strategies and optimization

methodologies specifically suited to address the challenges in micro- and nano-scale

fabrication.

This Special Issue showcases 12 research papers and a review article focusing on novel

methodological developments on several aspects of micro electrical discharge

machining: machinability studies of hard materials (TiNi shape memory alloys, Si3N4-TiN

ceramic composite, ZrB2-based ceramics reinforced with SiC fibers and whiskers,

tungsten-cemented carbide, Ti-6Al-4V alloy, duplex stainless steel, and cubic boron

nitride), process optimization adopting different dielectrics or electrodes,

characterization of mechanical performance of processed surface, process analysis, and

optimization via discharge pulse-type discrimination, hybrid processes, fabrication of

molds for inflatable so���� microactuators, and implementation of low-cost desktop micro-

EDM system.