ECM Cutting Fluids and “Chemical Chip” Disposal

Discussed are the requirements and disposal of the cutting solutions in electrochemical machining (ECM), and the economics of dissolving, complexing, and separating the chemical chips in addition to their disposal. Two extreme examples are discussed in detail: gun drilling long 0.050 in. holes at 1.2 amp, and cavity sinking at 5000 amp to give proper perspective to the wide variations in problems.