SPARC - A Simulation Platform for Advanced Rough-cut Control in Wire EDM

This paper presents SPARC (Simulation Platform for Advanced Rough-cut Control), a modular simulation framework for Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (wire EDM) rough cut operations, designed to facilitate the development and validation of advanced control strategies. SPARC implements five core modules that capture key process behaviors: ignition dynamics, material removal, dielectric behavior, wire status, and movement mechanics. Each module employs simplified stochastic models that balance computational efficiency with physical accuracy. The platform integrates with the Gymnasium environment, enabling standardized implementation and evaluation of control algorithms, particularly for Reinforcement Learning (RL) approaches. The modular architecture allows independent refinement of individual components while maintaining a consistent interface for control development. This open-source platform provides a foundation for rapid prototyping and validation of wire EDM control strategies prior to physical implementation.