Page 16 - Electric Drives and Electromechanical Systems
P. 16
8 Electric Drives and Electromechanical Systems
FIG. 1.4 The operating principles of a number of unconventional, subtractive, manufacturing processes. (A) Laser
Cutting. (B) Electrochemical machining (ECM). (C) Electrodischarge Machining (EDM).
typical power density of 6500 GW mm 2 At this power a 125 mm diameter hole in a steel
sheet 1.25 mm thick can be cut almost instantly. As in the case of a laser, the beam
source is stationary, and the workpiece is moved on an X-Y table. The process is
complicated by the fact that it is undertaken in a vacuum due to the nature of the
electron beam. This requires the use of drives and tables that can operate in a vacuum,
and do not contaminate the environment.
