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AbstractA Dutch company is specialised in production, research & consultancy in the field of electrochemical metal machining, a non-conventional metal machining technique based on electrolysis, and enables extremely fine mechanical machining in the range of 1 to 10 µm. The company has experience with this technology in the sectors of aerospace, medical, jewellery, automotive, and the energy industry. Partners are sought for commercial agreements with technical assistance & product development projects.DetailsA Dutch company started its activities in 2003 as a spin-off of a Dutch-based multinational, active in e.g. home appliances, consumer products and medical sector. Electrochemical Machining (ECM) is a non-conventional metal machining technique based on electrolysis, in which metal is anodic machined, dissolving locally with a high accuracy.An anode (work piece) and a cathode (electrode, a design based on the inverse shape of the desired end product) are positioned towards one another on a machine set-up. Through the gap (in the range of 10 µm) between work piece and electrode, an electrolyte is flushed, the function whereof is to conduct the current in the gap and to carry off the reaction products formed during the process. By conducting an electrical current through the anode, electrolyte and cathode, anodic material will be dissolved locally until the product reaches the desired shape. The hardness, toughness and thermal resistance do not affect the Material Removal Rate (MRR), it is also of no importance if the machining occurs before or after a hardening step. MRR is 1,5 cm3/min at 1000 A DC and is independent of the type of material. Hard and tough alloys can be machined at the same speed as for instance aluminium. Innovative Aspects: - Zero electrode wear. - After machining the product is free from burrs. - Works on the principle of contact-free machining. The process brings no thermal or physical tension in the product. No top layer deformation as known to be formed with other machining techniques. - 3D products can be machined in a single step. - High surface quality is feasible (Ra <0,05 µm), depending on the material. - High dimensional accuracy is feasible. - Material tension that is released during the process is being counter-balanced if possible. - With the application of ECM, it is possible to generate more freedom of design for a product.
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