A Novel Half-Bridge Power Supply for High Speed Drilling Electrical Discharge Machining

Abstract

High Speed Drilling Electrical Discharge Machining (HSDEDM) uses controlled electric sparks to erode the metal in a work-piece. Through the years, HSDEDM process has widely been used in high speed drilling and in manufacturing large aspect ratio holes for hard-to-machine material. The power supplies of HSDEDM providing high power applica-tions can have different topologies. In this paper, a novel Pulsed-Width-Modulated (PWM) half-bridge HSDEDM power supply that achieves Zero-Voltage-Switching (ZVS) for switches and Zero-Current-Switching (ZCS) for the dis-charge gap has been developed. This power supply has excellent features that include minimal component count and inherent protection under short circuit conditions. This topology has an energy conservation feature and removes the need for output bulk capacitors and resistances. Energy used in the erosion process will be controlled by the switched IGBTs in the half-bridge network and be transferred to the gap between the tool and work-piece. The relative tool wear and machining speed of our proposed topology have been compared with that of a normal power supply with current limiting resistances.