Fabrication of tungsten carbide micro fins by sliding ECM

Electrochemical Machining (ECM) is an outstanding method to process micro-scale products for its fine surface quality and non-residual stress remaining after machining. This study proposes a sliding Electro Chemical Machining (SECM) method to fabricate tungsten carbide micro fins. The method was expected to thin the pre-machined tungsten carbide fins into micro scale. During conventional ECM process, polarization has been considered as a major issue especially for microscale products, the resultant often jams the electrolyte refreshment thus causing concentration polarization. With the application of rapid sliding workpiece and pulse power supply, the experiment is able to minimize the concentration polarization, and massively reduce the stray current effect, eventually achieve micro-fin fabrication.