Flow field design and experimental investigation of electrochemical machining on blisk cascade passage

Electrochemical machining (ECM) provides an economical and effective way for machining heat-resistant, high-strength materials into complex shapes that are difficult to machine using conventional methods. It has been applied in several industries, especially aerospace, to manufacture blisk. The electrolyte flow field is a critical factor in ECM process stability and precision. To improve the process stability and the efficiency of blisk cascade passages, ECM with a radial feeding electrode, a rational electrolyte flow mode for electrochemical machining called “Π shape flow mode”, is discussed in the paper. Three flow field models are described separately in this report: traditional lateral flow mode, positive flow mode and Π-shaped flow mode, and the electrolyte velocity and pressure distribution vectors for each flow mode are calculated by means of a finite element fluid analysis method. The simulation results show that the electrolyte flow is more uniform with the Π-shaped flow mode. The deformation of the cathode, which is caused by the pressure difference, is also analysed in this report. The cascade passage ECM with a radial feeding electrode was experimentally tested out to evaluate the rationality of the flow field, and the fluctuation of current during the process was less than 1 %, which means that the process that uses the Π-shaped flow mode is stable. The feeding velocity of the cathode with the Π-shaped flow mode is approximately 70 % higher than that with the other two flow modes, and the incidences of short circuiting are obviously decreased. The surface roughness of the blisk hub is only 0.15 μm, and the machining error of the hub is less than 0.1 mm. The results demonstrate that using the Π-shaped flow mode can enhance the quality, stability and efficiency of blisk cascade passage ECM.