Wire EDM
Precision cutting using electrical discharge — accurate to 1/10,000th of an inch.
What Is Wire EDM?
Wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is a precision cutting process that uses a thin, electrically charged wire to cut through metal. Unlike traditional machining, the wire never touches the workpiece — instead, electrical sparks vaporize the material with microscopic precision.
Think of it like a lightning bolt, focused into a hair-thin wire, slicing through the toughest metals like a hot knife through butter. The result? Complex shapes cut with tolerances that traditional machining simply can't match.
Why It Matters
Because the wire never physically touches your part, there's no mechanical stress, no heat distortion, and no tool wear affecting accuracy. Every cut is as precise as the first.
How Wire EDM Works
A four-step process that turns your design into a precision part.
-
Your Design
Send us your CAD file, drawing, or even a sketch. We program the exact cutting path into our machine's computer controls.
-
Submerged Cutting
Your metal workpiece is submerged in a tank of deionized water. A brass wire — thinner than a human hair — is threaded through the starting point.
-
Spark Erosion
Electrical current flows through the wire, creating thousands of tiny sparks per second. These sparks vaporize the metal in the wire's path — no physical contact, no stress on your part.
-
Precision Results
The water flushes away microscopic debris as the wire follows your programmed path. The result is a part cut to ±0.0001″ with edges so smooth they often need no finishing.
Sodick VL600Q
Japanese precision engineering with linear motor technology.
-
Work Envelope
23.6″ × 15.7″ × 12.1″ (X by Y by Z)
Handles parts up to 2,200 lbs
-
Accuracy
±0.0001″ (±0.003mm)
10-year positioning guarantee
-
Surface Finish
Ra 0.15μm achievable
Mirror-like finishes possible
-
Technology
Linear Motor Drives
No backlash, no wear, no maintenance
Wire EDM Capabilities
-
Hardened Materials
Tool steel, carbide, titanium, Inconel, hardened stainless — materials that destroy conventional cutting tools.
-
Complex Geometry
Internal corners, intricate profiles, and shapes impossible to achieve with rotary cutters.
-
Thin & Fragile Parts
No cutting forces means delicate parts won't bend, break, or distort during machining.
-
Tight Tolerances
When your specs call for ±0.0001″ or better, Wire EDM is often the only option.
-
Tapered Cuts
Variable taper angles up to ±25° for dies, molds, and specialized components.
-
Tensile Specimens
ASTM-standard test specimens for R&D labs and materials testing.
Industries Using Wire EDM
-
Research & Development
Tensile specimens, test coupons, material samples. When your research depends on precise, repeatable samples.
-
Automotive
Prototype parts, tooling, fixtures, and production components requiring extreme precision.
-
Aerospace
Turbine components, structural parts, and assemblies from exotic alloys.
-
Tool & Die
Precision dies, molds, punches, and forming tools that demand perfect geometry.
-
Medical
Surgical instruments, implant components, and medical device prototypes.
-
Prototyping
Inventors and engineers turning CAD designs into real, functional parts.
Need Precision Wire EDM?
Send us your CAD files or drawings. We'll review your project and get you a quote — usually within 24 hours.