Efficient Micromachining of Hardened Steels by Using Laser Ablation and EDM

摘要

Ablating processes gain more and more importance in micro manufacturing. Technologies like EDM (electrical discharge machining) and laser ablation are both suitable for a non-contact material removal process and thus a material removal without any process forces - irrespective of mechanical material properties such as hardness or strength. By laser ablation smallest structures can be realized with good surface qualities, while EDM facilitates higher ablation rates and aspect ratios. With the combination of both processes the specific advantages can be utilized while disadvantages can partially be eliminated. For this reason the wbk examines integrated machining by EDM and laser ablation without reclamping in a single machine tool.rnThe processing time of a micro gear wheel has been reduced by more than 50 % and the initial surface quality of an EDM-processed plane has been significantly improved.