Developments in electric power supply configurations for electrical-discharge-machining (EDM)

The electric discharge machining (EDM) process provides one of the best alternatives, or sometimes the only alternative, to machine a growing number of high-strength and corrosion-and-wear-resistant materials. It is based on the principle of erosion of metals by an interrupted electric spark. The power supply design and configuration requirements for producing the desired "spark" have always been challenge to the researchers and manufacturers. With the evolution of advanced electronics knowledge-base, the EDM power supply configurations have constantly been updated over the years. The present paper reviews the developments in high frequency electric power supply configurations used for the EDM process.