• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.60-64
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• 2002

This paper describes the machining characteristics of the MoSi$_2$--based composites through the process of electric discharge drilling with various tubular electrodes. In addition to hardness characteristics, microstructures of Nb/MoSi$_2$laminate composites were evaluated from the variation of fabricating conditions, such as preparation temperature, applied pressure, and pressure holding time. MoSi$_2$-based composites have been developed in new materials for jet engines of supersonic-speed airplanes and gas turbines for high-temperature generators. These high performance engines may require new hard materials with high strength and high temperature-resistance. Also, with the exception of grinding, traditional machining methods are not applicable to these new materials. Electric discharge machining (EDM) is a thermal process that utilizes a spark discharge to melt a conductive material. The tool electrode is almost -unloaded, because there is n direct contact between the tool electrode and the work piece. By combining a non-conducting ceramic with more conducting ceramic, it was possible to raise the electrical conductivity. From experimental results, it was found that the lamination from Nb sheet and MoSi$_2$ powder was an excellent strategy to improve hardness characteristics of monolithic MoSi$_2$. However, interfacial reaction products, like (Nb, Mo)SiO$_2$and Nb$_2$Si$_3$formed at the interface of Nb/MoSi$_2$, and increased with fabricating temperature. MoSi$_2$composites, with which a hole drilling was not possible through the conventional machining process, enhanced the capacity of ED-drilling by adding MbSi$_2$, relative to that of SiC or ZrO$_2$reinforcements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.1003-1007
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• 2002

Micro-EDM is generally used far machining micro 3-D structure. For micro-EDM, first of all, micro-electrode fabrication is needed and WEDG system is proposed for tool electrode fabrication method. When tool electrode is fabricated using WEDG system, its characteristics are under the control of many EDM parameters. Also relations between the parameters affect electrode fabrication. In this study, experiments are carried out to analyze effects of EDM parameters on micro-electrode fabrication. Experimental method and analysis are used to experimental design method. Factors used in experiments are composed of applied voltage, capacitance, wire feed rate, spindle rotating speed, machining time. As a result of experiments, wire feed rate, machining time and capacitance is proportional to gap distance(material removal), the other parameters(applied voltage, spindle rotating speed) and relations between the parameters have little influence on machining.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.556-562
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• 2012

Micro electrical discharge machining (${\mu}EDM$) has been used for non-conventional material removal. One drawback of ${\mu}EDM$ is low productivity. In this study, we tried to find the optimal machining conditions to manufacture the micro hole with an optimal machining time without loss of accuracy. Taguchi method was used to figure out the relation between machining parameters and characteristics of the process. It was found that the electrode wear, the entrance and exit clearance gave a significant effect on the diameter of the micro hole when the diameter of the electrode was identical. Grey relational analysis was used to determine the optimal machining condition for minimum machining time without loss of accuracy. The obtained optimal machining condition was the input voltage of 80V, the capacitance of 680pF, the resistance of $500{\Omega}$, the feed rate of $1.5{\mu}m$/s and the spindle speed of 2900rpm. The machining time was reduced to 48% without loss of accuracy under the optimal machining condition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.389-394
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• 2005

Microfactory is effective method for machining micro size component. Electro-chemical machining can be more suitable to a microfactory than other machining methods in terms of maintaining high accuracy. Surface profile of EDM Machined component is predicted by micro EDM simulation using superpositioning spark crater. Planar motor and micro pump are developed to construct microfactory system.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.23-28
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• 2002

This paper describes the machining characteristics of the $MoSi_2$ based composites by electric discharge drilling with various tubular electrodes, besides, Hardness characteristics and microstructures of $Nb/MoSi_2$ laminate composites were evaluated from the variation of fabricating conditions such as preparation temperature, applied pressure and pressure holding time. $MoSi_2$ -based composites has been developed in new materials for jet engine of supersonic-speed airplanes and gas turbine for high- temperature generator. Achieving this objective may require new hard materials with high strength and high temperature-resistance. However, With the exception of grinding, traditional machining methods are not applicable to these new materials. Electric discharge machining (EDM) is a thermal process that utilizes a spark discharge to melt a conductive material, the tool electrode being almost non-unloaded, because there is no direct contact between the tool electrode and the workpiece. By combining a nonconducting ceramics with more conducting ceramic it was possible to raise the electrical conductivity. From experimental results, it was found that the lamination from Nb sheet and $MoSi_2$ powder was an excellent strategy to improve hardness characteristics of monolithic $MoSi_2$. However, interfacial reaction products like (Nb, Mo)$SiO_2$ and $Nb_2Si_3$ formed at the interface of $Nb/MoSi_2$ and increased with fabricating temperature. $MoSi_2$ composites which a hole drilling was not possible by the conventional machining process, enhanced the capacity of ED-drilling by adding $NbSi_2$ relative to that of SiC or $ZrO_2$ reinforcements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2017

In this paper, $Si_3N_4/hBN$ ceramics with various hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) contents (0, 10, 20, or 30 wt%) were fabricated via spark plasma sintering (SPS) at $1500^{\circ}C$, 50MPa, and 10m holding time. The material properties such as the relative density, hardness, and fracture toughness were systematically evaluated according to the hBN content in the $Si_3N_4/hBN$ ceramics. The results show that relative density, hardness, and fracture toughness continuously decreased as the hBN content increased. In addition, peak-step drilling (with tool diameter $500{\mu}m$) was performed to observe the effects of hBN content in micro-hole shape and cutting force. A machined hole diameter of $510{\mu}m$ (entrance) and stable cutting force were obtained at 30 wt% hBN content. Consequently, $Si_3N_4/30wt%$ hBN ceramic is a feasible material upon which to apply semi-conductor components, and this study is very meaningful for determining correlations between material properties and machining performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.644-649
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• 2013

Today, there are lots of progresses in the field of lens researches, especially in the microlens fabrication. Unlike normal lenses, microlens has been widely used as a role of improving the performance of photonic devices which increase the optical precision, and also used in the fields of the display. In this paper, polymer microlenses with $300{\mu}m$ diameter were replicated through hot-embossing from nickel mold which was fabricated by micro-EDM. After hot-embossing process, the polymer microlenses have a rough surface due to the crater formed by micro-EDM process, which is projected onto the surface of the lenses. The surface of polymer microlenses was polished using solvent vapor to improve the surface roughness of the microlenses without changing their shape. In the experiment, the surface roughness was improved with the processing time and vapor temperature. Also, the roughness improvement was greatly affected by the solubility difference between polymer and solvent.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2010

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is an attractive machining technique but it requires electrically conductive ceramic materials. In this study, Alumina matrix composites reinforced with CNTs were fabricated through CNT purification, mixing, compaction and spark plasma sintering (SPS) processes. $Al_2O_3$ nanocomposites with the different CNT concentrations were synthesized. The mechanical and electrical characteristics of $Al_2O_3$/CNTs composites were examined in order to apply the materials to the EDM process. In addition, micro-EDM using wire electrical discharge grinding (WEDG) was conducted under the various EDM parameters to investigate the machining characteristics of machined hole by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM). The results show that $Al_2O_3$/CNTs 10%Vol. was more suitable than the other materials because high conductivity and large discharge energy caused violent sparks resulting in bad machining accuracy and surface quality.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.285-290
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• 2013

$Ti_2AlN$ composites are a laminated compounds that posses unique combination of typical ceramic properties and typical metallic(Ti alloy) properties. In this paper, the powder synthesis, SPS sintering, composite characteristics and machinability evaluation were systematically conducted. The random orientation characteristics and good crystallization of the $Ti_2AlN$ phase are observed. The electrical and thermal conductivity of $Ti_2AlN$ is higher than that of Ti6242 alloy. A machining test was carried out to compare the effect of material properties on micro electrical discharge drilling for $Ti_2AlN$ composite and Ti6242 alloy. Also, mixture table as a kind of tables of orthogonal arrays was used to know how parameter is main effective at experimental design. Consequently, hybrid $Ti_2AlN$ ceramic composites showed good machining time and electrode wear shape under micro ED-drilling process. This conclusion proves the feasibility in the industrial applications.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2015

Ti alloys are extensively used in high-technology application because of their strength, oxidation resistance at high temperature. However, Ti alloys tend to be classified very difficult to cut material. In this paper, The powder synthesis, spark plasma sintering (SPS), bulk material properties such as electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are systematically examined on $Ti_2AlN$ and $Ti_2AlC$ materials having most light-weight and oxidation resistance among the MAX phases. The bulk samples mainly consisted of $Ti_2AlN$ and $Ti_2AlC$ materials with density close to theoretical value were synthesized by a SPS method. Machining characteristics such as machining time, surface quality are analyzed with measurement of voltage and current waveform according to machining condition of micro-electrical discharge machining with micro-channel shape.