Page 10 - Fall 2024 EDM Today

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Feature Article

UNDERSTANDING SURFACE

ROUGHNESS IN EDM

By Marco Boccadoro
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Marco Boccadoro

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Marco Boccadoro has devoted
his entire professional career
to EDM and was honored as
an EDM Today EDM Pioneer.
(Spring, 2013 available INTRODUCTION
Given the vast scope of surface metrology, this article focuses specifi cally on
under the Archives tab at
EDM Today Magazine First, what is the deeper meaning of metrology? Measuring involves comparing
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measuring surface roughness in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM).
edmtodaymagazine.com)
Mr. Boccadoro has authored
or co-authored 21 patents
with a universally accepted standard. For instance, in the 12th century, King
covering EDM machines, power
supplies, and control systems.
Henry I of England defi ned a yard as the distance from his nose to the thumb of
his outstretched arm, a measure likely accepted by his contemporaries.
Recently retired from his
position as GF Machining
Solutions’ Head of Research
tribology, adhesion, precision, and the fatigue life of a part. It also affects
and Innovation, his responsibili-
the dimensions of an object; in EDM, the peak-to-valley difference in the
ties included managing Why is surface roughness important? The surface structure infl uences
profi le can be up to six times the Ra value. So, what should be considered the
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EDM Today Magazine Another consideration is surface appearance. The human eye can detect
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research projects with a
correct fi nal dimension of a part? The peaks or the average between peak
network of universities world-
and valley?
wide and carrying out internal
research and feasibility
details down to a few micrometers. Years ago, the fi rst cell phones had
projects. His favorite defi nition
replaceable batteries that included part of the external housing. Although the
of innovation is:
Ra of the old and new parts was the same, the replaced part often looked
different from the rest of the phone. EDM mold makers had to adjust the
“Innovation is creativity
shape of the craters to mitigate this issue while maintaining the same
roughness as the phone.
with a job to do.”
Surface roughness in EDM is infl uenced by the pulse energy and shape,
which create the characteristic craters, as well as the type of dielectric used.
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Given the critical role of surface structure in part performance, measuring it
is essential for quality control.
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