Study on Electrolyte Jet Machining of Cemented Carbide

Abstract

This paper describes a new method to electrochemically machine cemented tungsten carbide using electrolyte jet machining (EJM). NaNO3 aqueous solution was used as the electrolyte instead of a mixed aqueous solution of NaNO3 and NaOH, which is normally used for the conventional electrochemical machining (ECM) of cemented tungsten carbide, but has hazardous characteristics. The machining was carried out successfully with both alternating current (AC) and direct current(DC). However, AC enabled more localized dissolution under the jet than DC. An insulator nozzle was employed for AC machining to prevent the nozzle wear. It was also useful for DC machining because dissolution was more localized.