Division of Engineering
Anodic Machining (AM),often called electrochemical machining (ECM), is the use of controlled anodic erosion to shape components. It is the use of the electrolytic process to
remove material from a workpiece and cause a change of workpiece shape. As in electroplating, the erosion material
is the anode and the eroding tool is the cathode.
In practice the process is similar to electrodischarge machining (EDM), the tool shape influencing workpiece shape when
a potential difference is applied. But unlike EDM the tool is not a direct inverse of the final workpiece shape.
Thus simulating the effects of tools is not simple in AM and dependent on a wide range of factors.
The picture shows the result of a two-dimesional die-sinking experiment of designing a tool (above) to create a workpiece (below) with a double cosine curve of specific dimensions. The workpiece is Inconel 718; the tool is copper. Inconel 718 is a nickel based alloy which is hard and temperature resistant, unlike copper which is soft and has a lower melting point. The electrolyte used was a 15% solution of sodium chloride, which flowed along the gap between the tool and workpiece in the direction of the arrow shown on the workpiece. This demonstrates the ability of AM to make hard metal and alloy components using tools made with softer metals and alloys with common electrolytes.
For more information on the above designed tool click this link.
Or to view/download the whole slideshow click here.