Hey everyone,

I'm new to the site, not new to forums though. I have some questions regarding EDM's. I am doing a power point presentation for my Intermediate Machine Lecture class at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

My questions are:

What materials can be cut on EDM's?

What are some of the feed rates and cutting speeds?

And what do you have to do different from one material to the next. EX. cutting aluminum, then having to cut stainless steel.

My knowledge on EDM's are next to nothing. I have never personally ran one, though I have watched and I do have a small understanding on how they work.

Any input will be appreciated. Thanks guys!

Can anyone lend a helping hand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_discharge_machining

gee, thanks.

Not sure if you got your questions answered or not.

EDM machines are mostly used for the Aerospace industry and mold making industry. IN the Aerospace industry the metals are so tough to machine that sometimes the only way to machine it is by EDM.
Aluminum can be cut on EDM but it is not the greatest. Any material can be cut on EDM as long as it is conductive.
EDM wire machines run about a feed rate of .03 a minute depends on alot of conditions such as how thick the material is and such.

Just as any machining method it is pretty broad and depends the the material and and the type of cut.

www.mitsubishi-world.com
The wire machine will cut most anything that conducts electricity (including your hand - it's not as severe as an auto coil, but it will definitely get your attention).
Cutting speeds very but in a nutshell, the more conductive the material is, the faster the machine can cut. And, in disagreement with the previous poster...this type of machine flies through aluminum. In "typical tool steel"...12 to 17 square inches per hour would be the maximum even though the manufacturers will advertise much faster (in a lab with ideal conditions with the full moon over scorpio, etc.). 12 to 17 inches per hour translation?...IF your material is 1" thick, expect the machine to be able to cut a line (no skimcutting) 12 to 17 inches long. Aluminum?...40 to 50 per hour. The drawback with aluminum however...very dirty with larger than normal debris that plugs up the water filters very quickly.

hello chapes

I use 3 wire eroders at a small engineering firm so so i hope i can put some light on what edm's can do!!

1, any materal that is conductive can be cut. With steels is is easer to cut a harder peice than soft or castings as the metal is more pure and has less imprefections and foreign matter mixed in with the steel that can cause all sorts of problems for the controler

2, as a rough gide thru steel 1" thick on a good day 4 mm/min
in ali roughly 6-8 mm/min
but i am using 15 -20 year old machines i am told that mordan day machines can go twice as fast

3, the only thing that has to change is the water conductivy ie:

steel 40 m/s

alu 0 m/s

st/st 30 m/s

hope this info is some help