EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH OF ECOLOGICAL DIELECTRIC LIQUID IN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING

Abstract

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) processing takes place as a result of controlled electric discharges between the surface of the tool electrode and the surface of the machined part between which there is an electrically insulating working environment. The dielectric fluids used at EDM have a worrying impact on the environment and the human operator from two perspectives: the renewable source and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that occurs during machining due to the resulting thermal effects. The classic dielectric fluid could be replaced with native vegetable oils. In the present paper, the possibility of replacing it with sunflower oil or rapeseed oil is studied, the research being oriented towards the study of their influence on the quality of the processing as well as on the emissions of volatile organic compounds. Preliminary results show that both ecologic oils can be potential alternatives as dielectric liquids.