Patent ID: 8652307

Claim:
An apparatus for magnetic field assisted electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM), comprising: a spindle; a tool electrode mounted to an end of the spindle to provide an electrode of a first polar environment; an auxiliary electrode having a polarity opposite to that of the tool electrode to provide an electrode of a second polar environment; a power supply comprising a first electric portion and a second electric portion, the first and second electric portions are electrically connected to the tool electrode and the auxiliary electrode, respectively; an electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) mechanism comprising a containing unit for receiving a workpiece and a conductive machining fluid therein, and the auxiliary electrode being disposed in the containing unit, and an optical digital instrument being connected to a bottom of the containing unit for real-time monitoring and immediately determining whether the workpiece has been machined to a preset target depth; and a magnetic unit being used to produce a magnetic field when the tool electrode is fed to machine the workpiece, so that a magnetic force is applied to the conductive machining fluid to produce a magneto hydrodynamic (MID) effect in the conductive machining fluid; wherein a plurality of electrolysis bubbles having a substantial amount of charged ions thereon are generated during electrolysis process, when the tool electrode is fed to machine the workpiece, due to the influence of the magnetic field produced by the magnetic unit and the electric field produced during the electrolysis process, the charged ions of the electrolysis bubbles are affected by Lorenz force resulting in a convection of the electrolysis bubbles producing the MHD effect in the conductive machining fluid, and then a thickness of a film of the electrolysis bubbles surrounding the surface of the tool electrode is reduced, and a circulation of the conductive machining fluid surrounding the tool electrode is enhanced.