Roughness of Small Diameter External Cylindrical Surfaces Obtained by Ram Electrical Discharge Machining

In order to obtain small diameter external surfaces by ram electrical discharge machining from plate workpieces, tubular tool electrodes could be used. In such a case, one can appreciate that the obtained surface is a simple concatenation of cavities appeared as a consequence of electrical discharges developed between the asperities existing initially on the active surface of the tool electrode and surface to be machined of the workpiece. The analysis of the surface generation as a consequence of the electrical discharge machining process showed that due to the surface tensions, a leveling phenomenon could be taken into consideration. An experimental study of influence exerted by some input factors on the surface roughness parameter Ra was designed and achieved. One noticed that the increase of the pulse on time, pulse off time and peak current intensity determines an increase of the surface roughness parameter Ra. By mathematical processing of the experimental results, an empirical model type power function was determined. The examination of the machined surface by means of an optical microscope showed the existence of microcavities generated by the electrical discharge, while the material melted and re-solidified was placed as a bordure of the microcavities.