Research Progress of Electrical Discharge and Electrochemical Hybrid Machining Technology

High quality machining of difficult-to-cut materials has always been a hot topic in the realm of advanced manufacturing. Electrical discharge and electrochemical hybrid machining (EDM-ECM) combines the strong points of EDM and ECM, which can achieve high-precision and high surface quality machining, and it plays an increasingly momentous role in the machining of difficult-to-cut materials. However, there is no systematic review of the current state of EDM-ECM technology. Working fluid is the linchpin for the appropriate combination of EDM and ECM in EDM-ECM. Meanwhile, the material removal mechanisms of EDM and ECM coexist in EDM-EDM, and the adjustment of the machining mechanism is the crux to give full play to its machining effect. In this paper, the research status of EDM-ECM working fluids is first reviewed. Secondly, the conversion of mechanisms in EDM-EDM machining is summarized. Then, the areas of application of EDM-ECM technology are introduced. Finally, the possible future efforts to expand the scope of the application of the technology are discussed and the ideas for future research work are provided.