Principles of Electrochemical Machining

BOOK

PRlNClPl>ES

OF

REVIEW

FX~ECTROCHEMICAI~

MACHINING

J. A. McGeough Chapman

The

introduction

of electrochemical

machining

and

in the

Hall

ttd

1975

255

pp.

electrochemical equivalent of alloys and practical metal removal rates reported in the literature. Most of the rest of the book is concerned with the problems in electrochemical machining which are amenable to

early

1960’s provided industry with a new method of shaping materials which are difFicult to machine by conventional methods. It is used widely in the aerospace industries but its impact on industry at large has been somewhat disappointing. To the academic world it Introduced a new multi-dlscip-

mathematical treatment at various levels-the dynamics and kinematics of the process and the design of the tool (cathode) to produce a specified workpiece (anode) shape. The complexity of the processes in the machining gap means that a “complete” mathematical description is inevitably a long way OR, if not unattainable. The major features of the process can however be discussed in terms

linary area of study---of what happens in electrolytic cells with interelectrode gaps of the order of a mm when a shaped cathode is fed towards the anode at rates of about lmmmin~‘. Current densities reach 150 A cm- ’ and very high electrolyte flow-rates are necessary to maintain the reaclion and remove the products-heat. hydrogen and sludge. McGeough’s book is an Introduction to these more academic problems of electrochemical machining. There are introductory chapters on basic fluid dynamics and basic electrochemistry covering those aspects relevant chemical machininn. These are followed bv the lnneest chapter in the bookon “Metals and Electrol;tes in EC?M” which discusses topics SW h as the calculation of the

of approxmate treatments and the hook gives a good rewew of pubhshed work. The last, short chapter on the applications of electrochemical machining serves, if anything, emphasise that the hook is mainly about the academic problems of electrochemical machining and does not discuss either

to

to electro-

electrochemical electrochemical elsewhere.

machines machming.

or the practical problems Fur these the reader must H.

657

of look

I-rrru~