What is Electric Discharge Machining (EDM)?
EDM is a method for producing holes and slots, or other shapes, by using an electric discharge (spark) to remove unwanted material. It is also called spark erosion. Sometimes it is used to produce a part, such as producing a slot in a very hard metal, and sometimes it is used to “rescue” a part such as removing a broken tap. The basic idea is to move an electrode very close to the work piece, and repeatedly produce a spark between the two. This is best done while immersed in a dielectric liquid rather than in air, and it helps if the proper distance can be automatically maintained. Note that the electrode gets eaten as well as the workpiece, and some compensation must be made for this. Very good finish can be achieved, though at reduced speed. EDM is not a fast method; some jobs can take days to produce holes, so its use is limited to jobs that cannot easily be done in other ways (e.g. oblong slots or complex shapes, sometimes in very hard material). Note too the work must be conductiv
Related Questions
- The part that I want to fabricate will require the use of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM). Can I learn how to use the EDM in the Student Machine Shop?
- What is the correct length of the linear glass scale for my Electric Discharge Machine (EDM) or grind?
- What is Electric Discharge Machining (EDM)?
