EDM is widely used in industries like aerospace, medical, automotive, and mold making.
Manufacturing of dies and molds for plastic injection molding and metal casting.
Producing precision parts for aerospace engines and medical implants.
Drilling fine holes in turbine blades.
Creating small, intricate parts for microelectronics.
Wire EDM (Precision for Difficult Materials and Intricate Shapes): When dealing with challenging materials like hardened steel or intricate shapes not achievable with traditional tools, wire EDM comes into play. It utilizes a thin wire electrode to precisely cut conductive materials with minimal heat distortion.
| Feature | CNC Machining | Turning | Milling | Grinding | Wire EDM |
| Machining method | Computer numerical control | Computer numerical control | Computer numerical control | Abrasive | Electrical discharge machining |
| Machining principle | Material is removed by controlling the movement of the machine tool | The workpiece rotates, and the cutting tool moves along a straight line | The cutting tool rotates, and the workpiece is fixed | Material is removed by abrasive grinding wheel | Material is eroded by spark |
| Applicable materials | Metal, plastic, wood, composite materials, etc. | Metal | Metal, plastic, wood, composite materials, etc. | Conductive materials | Conductive materials |
| Machining accuracy | High | High | Medium | High | Low |
| Machining efficiency | Medium | High | Medium | Low | Low |
| Machining range | Plane, curved surface, irregular shape | Rotational body | Plane, curved surface, irregular shape | Complex shape | Complex shape |
| Machining cost | Medium | Low | Medium | High | High |
| Application scenarios | Batch production, complex parts processing | Batch production of rotary parts | Small and medium batch parts processing, complex shape parts processing | Processing of difficult-to-process materials, thin-walled parts | Processing of complex shapes of difficult-to-process materials |