Precision Machining of Micro Spindles (1st Report)

Development of Wire Electrodischarge Grinding Method

Abstract

Production of various micro-spindles is now an urgent problem in relation with the rapid change of industrial parts and tools towards miniaturization. A new micro EDM application is proposed to realize the formation of micro-spindles of which the diameter is between 0.5mm and several micrometers. The principle of the method consists in using a travelling wire as an electrode to form the spindle by EDM. Differently from known WEDM, the wire is guided by a single guide and machining takes place at a guided part of the wire. An extreme precision is guaranteed by this mechanism. According to the similarity to a grinding process, the method is named wire electrodischarge grinding (WEDG). Experimental results proved the applicability of this method to automated production of very fine spindles.