| Electrical Discharge
Machining (EDM) is a nonconventional metal removal machining method
that employs the use of an electrode to machine the desired shape
into a workpiece under carefully controlled conditions. EDM offers
several advantages over conventional, "chip-making" machining methods
including: |
|
| 1. |
The ability to machine
extremely narrow notches. |
| 2. |
The ability to access
hard-to-reach locations such as pipe/tube IDs without the
need to section the workpiece. |
| 3. |
The ability to hold
very close dimensional tolerances. |
| 4. |
The ability to machine
harder materials and exotic alloys. |
| 5. |
The ability to machine
irregular shapes not otherwise possible. |
All conductive materials are able
to be EDM'd. EDM notches can be machined on both the OD and ID
of pipe and tube. Notches can be machined on IDs as small as 0.040".
Transverse (circumferential) notches are normally made with electrodes
precisely ground to the respective radius of the workpiece. This
ensures uniform notch depth along the notch length. Notches can
also be made to match an irregular surface. |
|
ID notches
can be placed in tubes as small as 0.040”. Surgical implant UT
tube standard shown has an ID of .052” and contains two ID and
two OD notches.
|
|
The basic notch shapes available are
detailed below. All notch shapes below can be longitudinally or circumferentially
oriented, and can be located on the OD or ID of hollow cylindrical products.
 |
This notch is also referred to as a
"Buttress" notch, and has parallel-sided walls and minimal corner
radius at notch bottom. Typical of notches over 0.010" wide. Available
in depths from 0.0001"; widths from 0.010"; and lengths from 0.005"
through 3.00" |
 |
This notch has parallel-sided walls
at the entry surface and a corner radius at notch bottom resembling
a "U-shape". Typical of notches under 0.010" wide. Available in
depths from 0.0001"; widths from 0.0014"; and lengths from 0.005"
through 3.00". |
 |
This notch has angled side walls that
meet at the notch bottom. Typical V-notch included angles (a)
are 40°, 45°, 60°, 70°, 75° and 90°,
with 60° being the most common. V-notch half-angle should
complement beam angle for maximum response. Available in depths
from 0.002"; and lengths from 0.020" through 2.00". |
 |
The absolute narrowest notch available
today. Available in widths from 0.0009", depths from 0.0001";
lengths from 0.005" through 1.00". Some depth limitations exist
on ultra-narrow notches depending on configuration and alloy.
Call Technical Sales to discuss possibilities. |
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