Nano-Finishing of Materials by Powder Mixed Electric Discharge Machining (PMEDM): A Review

The increasing demand for miniaturized components having mirror-like surface finish has generated a need to develop advanced machining technologies. Powder Mixed EDM (PMEDM) is one of the new advancement in this direction. This technology successfully satisfies the increasing demand of today's requirement of surface integrity at miniaturization level. Few research studies are also reported in the literature on the machining of workpiece material after the addition of nano particles like Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in to the dielectric fluid of EDM. This technology is termed as nano powder mixed EDM (NPMEDM). This paper presents a review of the ongoing research and development in PMEDM, NPMEDM followed by an in-depth discussion on high material removal rate (MRR), low tool wear rate (TWR), low surface roughness (SR), surface modification of workpiece, optimization of process parameters and process modeling and simulation. Future research directions and various potential applications are also discussed. This paper will deliver a scientific and technical overview on recent developments and useful information to academicians, researchers and scientists working in this field. Critical analysis of the use of powders for micro and nano machining is also presented.