Electrical Discharge Machining - History

History

In 1770, English physicist Joseph Priestley studied the erosive effect of electrical discharges. Furthering Priestley's research, the EDM process was invented by two Russian scientists, Dr. B. R. Lazarenko and Dr. N. I. Lazarenko, in 1943. In their efforts to exploit the destructive effects of an electrical discharge, they developed a controlled process for machining of metals. Their initial process used a spark machining process, named after the succession of sparks (electrical discharges) that took place between two electrical conductors immersed in a dielectric fluid. The discharge generator effect used by this machine, known as the Lazarenko circuit, was used for many years in the construction of generators for electrical discharge.

Additional researchers entered the field and contributed many fundamental characteristics of the machining method we know today. In 1952, the manufacturer Charmilles created the first machine using the spark machining process and was presented for the first time at the European Machine Tool Exhibition in 1955.

In 1969 Agie launched the world's first numerically controlled wire-cut EDM machine. Seibu developed the first CNC wire EDM machine 1972 and the first system manufactured in Japan.

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