Micro electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) is a thermo-electric and contactless
process most suited for micro-manufacturing and high-precision machining, especially
when difficult-to-cut materials, such as super alloys, composites, and electro conductive
ceramics, are processed. Many industrial domains exploit this technology to fabricate
highly demanding components, such as high-aspect-ratio micro holes for fuel injectors,
high-precision molds, and biomedical parts.
Moreover, the continuous trend towards miniaturization and high precision functional
components boosted the development of control strategies and optimization
methodologies specifically suited to address the challenges in micro- and nano-scale
fabrication.
This Special Issue showcases 12 research papers and a review article focusing on novel
methodological developments on several aspects of micro electrical discharge
machining: machinability studies of hard materials (TiNi shape memory alloys, Si3N4-TiN
ceramic composite, ZrB2-based ceramics reinforced with SiC fibers and whiskers,
tungsten-cemented carbide, Ti-6Al-4V alloy, duplex stainless steel, and cubic boron
nitride), process optimization adopting different dielectrics or electrodes,
characterization of mechanical performance of processed surface, process analysis, and
optimization via discharge pulse-type discrimination, hybrid processes, fabrication of
molds for inflatable so���� microactuators, and implementation of low-cost desktop micro-
EDM system.
