A NEW MACHINING METHOD FOR INSULATING CER AMICS WITH AN ELECTRICAL-DISCHARGE PHENOMENON

As the electro discharge phenomena can only occur between electro cond uctive materials and electrodes, the insulating materials could not be en machined by electrical discharge machining (EDN) method, In this re port, the new machining system is proposed and the machining character istics of Sialon insulating ceramics are discussed, It is clarified th at the insulating ceramics are also able to be machined using the stan dard EDM technique with the adhesive metal plate and soft metal electr odes. It is accomplished by using one of the surface modification tech niques for continuously making an electro conductive surface layer on the insulating surface.