EDM MACHINING
Wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is commonly used when low residual stresses are desired.
Wire EDM does not require high cutting forces. Common wire EDM processes are slots, eyelets, cut-offs and grooves.
WIRE EDM AT MARSHALL MANUFACTURING
At Marshall, CNC Wire EDM is often used when a machined feature, such as a slot or eyelet is required within a fragile portion of a component. Unlike an end mill or cutting tool, the Wire EDM process does not introduce cutting pressure or vibration. This is also valuable when medical device components need to be held to critical tolerances. When appropriate, building a fixture that will stack as many as 15 parts in a CNC Wire EDM operation is a common manufacturing practice utilized by Marshall.
WHAT IS EDM MANUFACTURING
EDM manufacturing is the process of creating high-precision parts and components through Electrical Discharge Machining. There are three primary forms of EDM:
Wire EDM is an electro-thermal production process that uses a thin metal wire alongside deionized water to cut through tough metals. Wire EDM machines create an electrical discharge between the metal wire and the workpiece—using heat from the electrical sparks to continue the cut. The deionized water (which conducts electricity) prevents the sparking process from shorting out, ensuring consistent and dependable removal of workpiece material.
Wire EDM is a highly valued machining process for many manufacturers. This solution enables the machining of any electrically conductive material into virtually any shape with extreme accuracy. Wire EDM makes it simple to create grooves, slots, eyelets or cut-offs in metal workpieces, creating a stress-free machining process for even the most complex or delicate parts.
Wire EDM manufacturing is unique in its capacity to create complex shapes that would otherwise be impossible to create with other precision cutting methods. This machining solution is ideal for cutting hard, exotic metals with extreme precision. Wire EDM is also well suited for small workpieces and parts with tight tolerance requirements—making it a natural choice for use across medical device manufacturing.
Efficient Production
Wire EDM machines use precise technology to produce desired parts or components. This strength allows manufacturers to create required parts more economically compared to other machining systems. Wire EDM drives efficient and dependable production.
Tight Tolerances
Unlike other machining solutions, wire EDM does not impose force on the workpiece, enabling tighter tolerances and remarkable accuracy. Wire EDM uses CNC technology to control the wire’s path with unmatched precision—making it an ideal solution for the production of parts with precise dimensions and extremely high tolerances.
Despite its strengths, wire EDM is not ideal for every machining project. Like all forms of EDM, this solution is limited to electrically conductive materials—making it incompatible for cutting composite or nonconductive parts. Wire EDM can also form an oxide layer on certain cut parts, depending on the material being machined. This can potentially increase costs slightly by requiring secondary cleaning.
While wire EDM is exceptionally useful across many machining applications, it is not always an ideal solution. For example, wire EDM requires each workpiece to be held firmly to ensure conductivity, potentially causing deformation for some tubing components. Wire EDM also removes material at a relatively slow rate compared to some other machining techniques. However, this speed limitation can be mitigated in part thanks to the programming and unattended operation capabilities of CNC.
Wire EDM
At Marshall, CNC Wire EDM is used in production for generating slots, grooves, holes, cutoff and other features.
WHAT IS EDM MANUFACTURING
EDM manufacturing is the process of creating high-precision parts and components through Electrical Discharge Machining. There are three primary forms of EDM:
Wire EDM is an electro-thermal production process that uses a thin metal wire alongside deionized water to cut through tough metals. Wire EDM machines create an electrical discharge between the metal wire and the workpiece—using heat from the electrical sparks to continue the cut. The deionized water (which conducts electricity) prevents the sparking process from shorting out, ensuring consistent and dependable removal of workpiece material.
Wire EDM is a highly valued machining process for many manufacturers. This solution enables the machining of any electrically conductive material into virtually any shape with extreme accuracy. Wire EDM makes it simple to create grooves, slots, eyelets or cut-offs in metal workpieces, creating a stress-free machining process for even the most complex or delicate parts.
Wire EDM manufacturing is unique in its capacity to create complex shapes that would otherwise be impossible to create with other precision cutting methods. This machining solution is ideal for cutting hard, exotic metals with extreme precision. Wire EDM is also well suited for small workpieces and parts with tight tolerance requirements—making it a natural choice for use across medical device manufacturing.