Abstract

The Sinking–Electro Chemical Spark Machining (S–ECSM) process has been\nsuccessfully applied for cavity machining in electrically non-conducting materials such as\nglass, quartz, ceramics and composites using non-rotating tool electrode. In the present\nwork, an axisymmetric FEM based transient thermal model has been developed to estimate\nthe temperature distribution within the heat affected zone of single spark in the work piece\naccounting temperature dependent properties of workpiece and same is used for the\ndetermination of material removal rate (MRR) during Sinking–ECSM. The present model\nis also used to study the influence of different input parameters such as energy partition,\nduty factor, spark radius and electrolyte concentration on MRR during Sinking–ECSM of\nsilicon nitride workpiece material.