Improvement of machining accuracy in EDCM by enhanced electrochemical reaming based on a non-metallic backing layer

Electrochemical Discharge Machining (ECDM) is potentially applicable for the fabrication of film-cooling holes. However, It is extremely difficult for the holes to achieve higher precision and machining quality owing to the working liquid diminish in the lateral machining gap. In this study, a non-metallic backing layer was proposed to overcome the diminish of working liquid, and the electrochemical reaming, as a post-processing method for ECDM, was used to further improve the machining accuracy and quality of the holes. First, the three-dimensional morphology of the melted pit of a paraffin backing layer was scanned to obtain the geometric parameters. Then, simulation analysis and experimental verification of auxiliary flushing by using the non-metallic backing layer were performed. The machining performance of the holes machined with electrochemical reaming based on non-metallic backing layer was confirmed by the observations of the surface topography of the hole wall and orifice, measurement of the orifice precision, and analysis of the element composition on the surface of the orifice wall. Finally, an optimum combination of machining parameters for electrochemical reaming is obtained through a process parameter optimization experiment.