Wire Electrical-Discharge Machining is the process of choice for the mechanical production of small medical, biomedical, electronic and aerospace metal parts. Wire EDM is one of the most accurate manufacturing processes for cutting complex or simple shapes, slots, holes, gears, tapers, and other various geometries into ferrous materials (metal), machined parts, and assemblies.
A WEDM system consists of a CNC machine with a consumable, traveling, conductive wire with energizing electrodes above and below the cutting area which arcs when brought close to the work-piece removing microscopic particles of material without touching the work-piece. The cutting pattern is CNC controlled and cutting is done while the part is immersed in a (usually) non-conductive deionized water. Flushing (from above, below, or both) carries away the eroded particles from the cutting zone and the fluid is sent through three to five micron filters to remove the impurities and the pure DI water is sent back to the cutting zone.
If cutting is done within the boundary of a part, a starting hole must be placed to allow the automatic threading EDM to place the wire in a starting position.
Engineering Technique's wire EDMs can use wire as small as .00078 inch (20um) to cut fine details with cross sections that are .001 inch and smaller. Dimensional part accuracy of .00002 inch is possible with surface finishes of .05 Ra on selected materials.
|
