When it comes to precision cutting of metals as well as a wide range of basic and exotic alloys, one of the best options is the choice of wire EDM. This is an option that can be used with any electrically conductive material can be cut using this process. It is even a good option with the superalloys as well as hardened steel.
To understand all of the benefits and advantages of the use of electrical discharge machining using a wire as the tool electrode. This is a fully automated process with the wire constantly rotated between two spools during the process to provide a continual cut that can be highly complex or very simple in shape.
A few of the most common advantages of the wire EDM include:
Cutting ability – with the use of this cutting technology, it is faster and more cost-effective to cut through materials such as Inconel, titanium or Hastelloy, which are often required in specialized applications such as military and defense as well as aerospace parts and components.
Angles and corners – with the wire technology, creating complex shapes is never a concern. Cuts can be made that include internal tapers, contours in the surface of the workpiece, extreme angles, and corners or even very elaborate shapes that wouldn’t be possible with the use of just one operation on other types of equipment.
Burr-free – with the electrical discharge machining the cut is made without any burrs or ridges along the cut. This eliminated the need for additional finishing and processing of the piece to remove burrs.
Ability to cut thin workpieces – as there is no pressure applied to the surface using wire EDM, even very thin metals can be cut in intricate patterns without any surface deformation of the piece.
Even more importantly for any Original Equipment Manufacturers, this is a cost-effective process. With virtually no waste in the cutting process, it provides tight tolerance and precision cutting for prototypes or volume production.
