Effect of wire electrode’s ultrasonic vibration on erosive capacity to W-EDM machines

This paper presents the results of experimental research aimed to improve yield in the wire electrical discharge machining (W-EDM). These machines were equipped with special devices for ultrasonic activation of the wire electrode. During experiments, we noticed that the ultrasonic energy introduced into the working environment influenced the erosive capacity of machining process. Two ways of activating the wire electrode: in a single point or in two points after two rectangular directions in space, as well as the combining methods of vibrations along the wire electrode, having equal or different frequencies and amplitudes, were analyzed. Variation the erosive capacity for different materials, depending on how the technological parameters (current intensity for dielectric breakdown and the ultrasound generator power) are prescribing, is presented under graphic and tabular forms.