The observation of growth and diffusion of electrolytic product in ECM

Electrochemical machining (ECM) is applied to a wide variety of metal processing. While ECM has many machining characteristics, bubbles and electrolytic product disturb current flow and decrease the machining efficiency. To apply ECM to micro-shape machining, it is important to clarify the mechanisms of transitional and microscopic ECM processes. In this report, variations in the growth and diffusion of electrolytic product at each ECM power and at each electrolyte temperature were measured by a microscopic optical system and fast camera. The growth and diffusion of electrolytic product were investigated based on the experimental results. The relationship between machining characteristics such as machining speed and surface roughness, and thickness of electrolytic product that varied as the growth and diffusion conditions changed were experimentally investigated.