2. Performance

2.1 Heat-affected zone

The metallurgical effects of EDM machining have been described by numerous authors [4][7][13][24][31][39] .

The removal of material is mainly a thermal phenomenon, involving the melting and vaporization of metal. Only part of the metal melted by each discharge is removed from the crater, the rest solidifying in place, causing surface weathering. Metallographic analysis of a cross-section of an electroeroded steel surface shows that...