EDM - Electrical Discharge Machining

Electric discharge machining (EDM), sometimes colloquially also referred to as spark machining, spark eroding, burning, die sinking or wire erosion, is a manufacturing process whereby a desired shape is obtained using electrical discharges. Material is removed from the workpiece by a series of rapidly recurring current discharges between two electrodes, separated by a dielectric liquid and subject to an electric voltage.

Sinker EDM, also called cavity type EDM or volume EDM, consists of an electrode and workpiece submerged in an insulating liquid such as oil or other dielectric fluids. The electrode and workpiece are connected to a suitable power supply.

In wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), also known as wire-cut EDM and wire cutting,[21] a thin single-strand metal wire, usually brass, is fed through the workpiece, submerged in a tank of dielectric fluid, typically deionized water.[19] Wire-cut EDM is typically used to cut plates as thick as 300mm and to make punches, tools, and dies from hard metals that are difficult to machine with other methods.


Applications

  • Cutting and stamping dies
  • Plastic Molds
  • Deep hole
  • Metal cylinder
  • Extrusion Dies
  • Tools


Advantages

  • The technique allows to obtain parts with complex geometry shapes, both externally and internally.
  • Allows working with fragile or easily deformable materials which can not be machined by other methods.
  • The technique is independent of work material hardness, which is a big advantage in working with very hard materials such as those used in the manufacture of matrices and also in the case of having to work with mixtures of materials of different hardness.
  • This technique is easy to automate. The control program manages the execution of programs - parts and enables the chain of operations from roughing to finishing, including travel and tool changes.
  • Finally, with this technique it is possible to obtain parts with a very good surface finish and within narrow tolerances.


Equipment

The Fundació CIM disposes of the following Electrical equipment:

  • ONA EU - 250 (Wire)
  • ONA TECHNO H - 300 (Penetration)


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