In 1959
Anocut Engineering Co. introduced the first practical electrochemical machine, which was primarily intended for making and sharpening carbide tooling. Their solution was based on patents obtained by George F. Keeleric, who had taken an idea that had been known for decades, and extensively developed it as a way of rapidly and accurately shaping hard metals, including carbide and various tool-steel alloys.
The basic electrochemical machining (ECM) technique has the workpiece as cathode, i.e., connected to the positive side of a DC power supply, and used a rapidly spinning metal surface as the anode. The cathode and anode had to be spaced very close together with an electrolytic fluid in between. The voltage was relatively low but the current density was very high, and the electrolyte had to circulate rapidly to carry away waste. This method can achieve rapid stock removal rates and when precisely controlled it is capable of achieving mirror finishes.
Anocut Engineering maintained a leadership position in ECM for about two decades before disappearing. We do not know what became of the company or its intellectual property.
As for ECM, it continues to be used, primarily in manufacturing and sharpening carbide cutters and in creating complex shapes out of hard metals, such as for turbine blades.
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