A desktop saw wire coating machine by using electrical discharge machining

This paper deals with a fabrication machine of a saw wire by electrical discharge machining (EDM). To solve problems in the fabrication of a fixed-abrasive saw wire, a deposition method by EDM with a compressed WC-Co powder working as an electrode has been proposed. At first, electrical conditions and electrode motion for the fabrication process of a hard layer on the thin wire by EDM were experimentally investigated. Then a prototype of the desktop fabrication machine was built. Four electrode feeding devices with a combination of a lead screw and a stepping motor were arranged on each side of a square working tank. The electricity was supplied to the electrodes by switching every 2 s. A long saw wire with the tungsten carbide layer could be fabricated. The deposited wire endured the same cutting load as the electrodeposited saw wire. Brittle materials such as glass and basalt could be cut with the fabricated saw wire.