Abstract
This paper describes the hybrid EDM system which was newly developed. This system is composed of multi-spark EDM system and conventional EDM system. Multi-spark EDM is characterized by higher removal rates and lower energy consumption compared with conventional EDM. It is, however, difficult to continue the multi-spark mode with a stable machining state. The hybrid EDM system therefore switches the operation mode from the multi-spark mode to the conventional mode when the instability is detected. Then, when the gap state satisfies the condition under which the multi-spark mode can work stably, the mode is switched back to the multi-spark mode. From the experiment, it was confirmed that the hybrid system developed works very well even under the machining conditions in which the process is unstable with the multi-spark mode only.
