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Not to knock on traditional machining, but EDM is so cool, why would you ever use metal when you could use lightning?
It turns out, there are a few big constraints that make traditional slab cutting machine the better choice for many applications.
The biggest problem with EDM is speed. Although hundreds of thousands sparks per second does add up quickly, the process is much slower than physical cutting. This assures that in cases where 20 microns is enough precision for you, and the material is not super strong, traditional machining remains king.
Types of EDM for different job types
Another problem that comes up has to do with the properties of current, itself. In order to have current, you need to be able to loop the “blade” back on itself.
Wire EDM uses an incredibly thin wire to conduct current, moving this through the material like an electrified jigsaw. The downside of wire EDM is, of course, you need to cut clean through the material.
Die Sinker EDM starts with the creation of, typically, a graphite electrode. The electrode is then used like a stamp, plunging into the workpiece to create complex cavity shapes.
Now, what if you want to cut a complex hole through a thick slab of carbide? You can’t use a die sinker, and you can’t use wire until you can run a wire from one side of the slab to the other.
Machinists have solved this problem with hole-drilling EDM. To create that pilot hole, use a “hole popper.” Hole poppers are rotating, conductive tubes that can be used to burn precise holes, and they can be used in tandem with wires to produce intricate, precise shapes in the hardest materials.
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11/21/19 at 1:00 AM -
11/22/19 at 6:00 AM -
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Hostslab cutting machine
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