subject: Some Pros And Cons Of Edm Wire Method [print this page] When hard and thick metal plates are to be cut in a special design then the first priority is always EDM wire. Edm stands for Electrical Discharge Machining and is also known as spark eroding and spark machining. Large drill machines and other cutting machines can not make holes in thick and hard metal and even if they did then they take a long time and along with increased cost. The process through which EDM works is very simple and easy. The main role is played by a single string of brass wire. This wire is inserted in the work piece and its one end is connected with a tank of de-ionized or dielectric fluid. With the help of this brass wire people can make holes and patterns even in 300mm thick metal plate. This wire is attached lower and upper diamond guides. These guides are usually connected and monitored by CNC machine and the diamond guides obeys the orders of this machine.
CNC machine can use these guides in x and y planes according to the design of the product.
Coin industry and the badge making industries are wonderful examples in which EDM wire method is used. The master die in these industries is made of silver; this is called the positive die and is only used once. The negative dies are made of harder material as they are to be used over and over again. As these dies are for repetitive use thats why they are made in such a way that their design does not erode with the passage of time. Turbine blade an essential part of turbine is also made in the same way with the help of EDM wire method. Sometimes it happens that during work the tools broke down and get stuck in the work pieces. These tools are also removed with the help of EDM wire machine and thats why it is also called metal disintegrating machine.There are some advantages of this method because of which it is being used on such a massive scale.
This method can turn hard material into required shapes which are mostly very complex. It has replaced the conventional cutting tools because it does not apply pressure on work piece like conventional tools did; because of this the chances of damage are reduced. It makes its way through hard metals very easily and can also drill fine holes in the metal as well. This method avoids direct contact with work piece which results in smooth surface and machining of parts without distortion.
Like any other machine it has some backsets as well. It works with a slow rate which results in additional cost for the company or organization. Multiple Electrodes are used in this process which increases the electricity consumption rate. Sharp corners are hard to reproduce through this method and the other backset is the excessive wear of tools during the machining process. This method can be applied on only non-conductive material which limits its scope.
