A material removal analysis of electrochemical machining using flat-end cathode

Electrochemical machining (ECM) has been increasingly recognized for the potential for machining, while the precision of the machined profile is a concern of its application. A process to erode a hole of hundreds of micrometers on the metal surface is analyzed in the current paper. A theoretical and computational model is presented to illustrate how the machined profile evolves as the time elapses. The analysis is based on the fundamental law of electrolysis and the integral of a finite-width tool. The paper also discusses the influence of experimental variables including time of electrolysis, voltage, molar concentration of electrolyte and electrode gap upon the amount of material removal and diameter of machined hole. The results of experiment show the material removal increases with increasing electrical voltage, molar concentration of electrolyte, time of electrolysis and reduced initial gap. The time of electrolysis is the most influential factor on the produced diameter of hole.