What are the advantages and disadvantage of wire edm ?

Minimal Post-Processing Required // Wire EDM machining makes precise and accurate cuts, reducing the need for finishing and secondary processes. This makes it a very cost-effective cutting method.

Perfect for Parts With Complex Geometries // Fathom’s wire EDM service is ideal for creating complex designs that may be challenging to fabricate using other cutting techniques or CNC machining. It can also cut sharp corners with minimal radii.

Excellent Edge-Cut Quality // Wire EDM provides a clean vertical cut compared to water jet cutting, which tends to become less accurate toward the bottom of the cut, as the water jet begins to dissipate.

Wide Variety of Materials // Our wire EDM service can cut both tough and brittle metals without damaging them.

Efficient // Metal plates can be stacked to cut multiple workpieces in a single pass.

Material Limitations // Wire EDM can only be used with metals that conduct electricity.

Not As Fast As Other Cutting Methods // Wire EDM machining cuts relatively slowly compared to water jet and microjet cutting.

Minimal Heat-Affected Zones // A narrow oxide or recast layer can develop along the cut. This can be reduced using trim passes. However, precise applications like aerospace may require electropolishing or passivation to remove it.

Experience Required // Wire EDM requires significant operator expertise and experience to do it well. Our staff has decades of experience in producing parts using wire EDM.

Wire EDM provides higher cutting accuracies and tighter tolerances than standard cutting processes:

• 5-Axis
• Wire diameter: .004~.012 in.
• Tolerance: .0001 in.
• Maximum taper angle: 30º @ 8 in. material thickness
• Position accuracy .0001 in. (.003mm)
• Feature and contour accuracy +/- .0001 in.
• Kerf width .006-.014 in.
• Maximum workpiece dimensions 27 x 40 in.
• Maximum workpiece thickness (may be stacked sheets) 15 in. thick