Measurement equipment for investigation of the influence of viscosity of dielectric working fluids on spark erosion

In this paper, measurement equipment for investigation of electrical discharges in dielectric working fluids is presented. Special features of these discharges are determined through a small distance between electrodes of 5 to 150 (mu)m and the ignition voltage up to 600 V. With the measuring system, a time-co-ordinated measurement of all electrical and optical processes of the discharging process can be accomplished. For using spark discharges is a machining process analyzing the influence of the viscosity of the work liquid on the ignition conditions is of great interest. Parameters measured at the plasma channel are starting parameters for a simulation of the thermal-affected zone of electrodes surfaces. The conditions for ignition and recovery strength of the work liquid are important characteristics for a machining process up to 4 million discharges per second.