When you hire the services of a custom metal fabrication shop, they can do many things for you. For example, you may need parts created by metal stamping, drilling, deburring, welding, or wire EDM services. Wire EDM offers a lot of benefits and here are some reasons to consider this kind of service.
What Does Wire EDM Mean?
EDM stands for “electrical discharge machining.” It does not use standard machining processes like milling, grinding, or cutting. Instead, a thin cutting wire gets energized by electricity as it passes through a dielectric fluid. The method is similar to a cutting torch as a very intense electrical spark cuts through metal easily. However, unlike a cutting torch, a custom metal fabrication shop can perform machining tasks with great precision and accuracy.
Why Wire EDM?
By cutting with electricity, you leave behind a smooth and even surface. There are no rough edges or burrs created which need finishing. Some machining methods are limited on the shapes and patterns they can create. However, wire EDM is computer controlled, and you can program some of the most sophisticated shapes and patterns. Many are nearly impossible with other methods.
Fragile Machining
Some shapes and materials cannot be created with standard methods because the stress of machining is too great. This can happen with very sharp turns or shapes which are highly intricate. Wire EDM does not place stress on the workpiece, so your custom metal fabrication service can work with many materials and get quality results.
With some metals, you need to send them through a heat treatment process first, because they are too hard to machine. Wire EDM does not require heat treatment beforehand. This saves you a lot of time and resources and makes wire EDM one of the most cost-effective ways you can turn out intricate and precision parts.