Although it has experienced a steady growth, electrochemical grinding (ECG) is mostly known as a niche process. Developed in the 1930s, it became popular in the US in the 1950s for grinding carbide cutting tools. At the time, the only other way to grind carbide was with an expensive, natural diamond grinding wheel. ECG has the ability to grind difficult-to-cut materials such as carbides, and this process became popular for producing cutting tools. But as disposable tooling inserts and molded near-net tool shapes were developed, ECG dropped off in popularity. Now, it’s mostly known in applications that work with challenging materials and thin-walled, fragile workpieces, including tubing cutoff, medical devices and parts for aircraft engines.
But according to Tom Travia, VP of Business Development at ECG equipment supplier Tridex (a Glebar company), potential applications for the process are again increasing as the technology advances. Today’s ECG provides an increasingly efficient option for machining challenging alloys, and OEMs in sectors such as medical see it as an effective way to machine precise components in these materials.
Source: New Applications for Electrochemical Grinding