Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization

Abstract Rapid tooling (RT) has evolved into an emerging area in the field of manufacturing for fabricating tools potentially reducing machining time and cost allowing higher levels of geometric freedom. In this work, the application of RT technique in electrical discharge machining (EDM) has been e...

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Main Authors: Anshuman Kumar Sahu, Siba Sankar Mahapatra, André Martin, Andreas Schubert, Marco Leite, Paulo Peças
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07020-7
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author Anshuman Kumar Sahu
Siba Sankar Mahapatra
André Martin
Andreas Schubert
Marco Leite
Paulo Peças
author_facet Anshuman Kumar Sahu
Siba Sankar Mahapatra
André Martin
Andreas Schubert
Marco Leite
Paulo Peças
author_sort Anshuman Kumar Sahu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Rapid tooling (RT) has evolved into an emerging area in the field of manufacturing for fabricating tools potentially reducing machining time and cost allowing higher levels of geometric freedom. In this work, the application of RT technique in electrical discharge machining (EDM) has been explored. RT tools fabricated by micro stereo-lithography (micro-SLA) are coated with thick copper coatings by electroless metallization and electroplating to be used during EDM to machine 304 L stainless steel work piece material. The performance of the RT tools is compared with massive copper tool results considering output performance measures like material removal rate, tool wear rate, surface roughness, and surface crack density. The machined work piece surfaces and tool surfaces are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The proposed RT tools have shown a higher material removal rate than the conventionally used massive copper tool. In addition, micro-cracks formed on the machined surfaces using RT tools are comparatively less. Nevertheless, the RT tools have higher tool wear rate and higher surface roughness on the machined surfaces as compared to the massive copper tool.
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spelling doaj-art-6a628d36eb5347f890fa0a7ffe542f9d2025-08-20T03:03:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-07020-7Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallizationAnshuman Kumar Sahu0Siba Sankar Mahapatra1André Martin2Andreas Schubert3Marco Leite4Paulo Peças5IDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de LisboaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology RourkelaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität ChemnitzFaculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität ChemnitzIDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de LisboaIDMEC, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de LisboaAbstract Rapid tooling (RT) has evolved into an emerging area in the field of manufacturing for fabricating tools potentially reducing machining time and cost allowing higher levels of geometric freedom. In this work, the application of RT technique in electrical discharge machining (EDM) has been explored. RT tools fabricated by micro stereo-lithography (micro-SLA) are coated with thick copper coatings by electroless metallization and electroplating to be used during EDM to machine 304 L stainless steel work piece material. The performance of the RT tools is compared with massive copper tool results considering output performance measures like material removal rate, tool wear rate, surface roughness, and surface crack density. The machined work piece surfaces and tool surfaces are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The proposed RT tools have shown a higher material removal rate than the conventionally used massive copper tool. In addition, micro-cracks formed on the machined surfaces using RT tools are comparatively less. Nevertheless, the RT tools have higher tool wear rate and higher surface roughness on the machined surfaces as compared to the massive copper tool.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07020-7Electrical discharge machiningMicro stereo-lithographyRapid toolingElectroless coatingElectroplating
spellingShingle Anshuman Kumar Sahu
Siba Sankar Mahapatra
André Martin
Andreas Schubert
Marco Leite
Paulo Peças
Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization
Scientific Reports
Electrical discharge machining
Micro stereo-lithography
Rapid tooling
Electroless coating
Electroplating
title Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization
title_full Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization
title_fullStr Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization
title_full_unstemmed Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization
title_short Electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo-lithography process with copper metallization
title_sort electrical discharge machining by rapid tools prepared by micro stereo lithography process with copper metallization
topic Electrical discharge machining
Micro stereo-lithography
Rapid tooling
Electroless coating
Electroplating
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07020-7
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