how it works
Wire EDM
Wire EDM cutting is always through the entire workpiece. To start Wire EDM, it is necessary to drill a hole in the workpiece or start from the edge. On the machining area, each discharge creates a crater in the workpiece and an impact on the tool. The wire can be programmed for the upper and lower head to move independently from each other, making it possible to produce parts with taper or with different profiles at the top and bottom. There is never any mechanical contact between the electrode and workpiece. The wire is usually made of brass or stratified copper and sometimes Molybdenum.
Depending on the accuracy and surface finish desired, a part will either be cut with one pass or it will be roughed and skimmed. One pass will give adequate accuracy for some jobs, but most of the time, skimming is necessary.
Sinker EDM
Sinker EDM, also referred to as Die Sinking EDM, Conventional EDM, Ram EDM or Plunge EDM uses spark erosion to machine or remove material from any electrically conductive material using a precision machined electrode submerged in a insulating EDM fluid. A graphite or copper electrode is machined into the desired (negative) shape and fed into the workpiece on the end of a vertical ram creating the desired cavity. Sinker EDM offers the ability to produce complex shapes without inducing stress into the workpiece and offers a solution for complex shapes and features to be machined when conventionally impossible.
EDM Drill
EDM drilling, is also commonly referred to as Hole popping, fast hole EDM, or small hole EDM. This machine utilizes electrodes that are hollow, allowing dielectric fluid to pass through it. This flow, combined with the rotation of the electrode, stabilizes the EDM process and aids in the removal of workpiece debris. This spark erodes the material while the electrode is rotated and moved down until the hole is complete. A hole drill EDM is often used to drill materials that are difficult to machine using conventional methods.
