Wire EDM Services

Brodeur’s wire EDM services range from standard to high precision tolerances as tight as 0.0001” (smaller than a human hair) . The process is incredibly effective because it imparts little, to no force or stress on the workpiece as it removes material. Parts are processed while submerged in deionized water. This crucial aspect creates a completely neutral environment which allows for stringent tolerances. Our machinery can run multiple wire sizes in order to address different project requirements.

Machining hard materials usually requires intense processing with tooling and force, creating stress and distortion in the material along with rapid wearing on the tool. However, material hardness has little effect on the EDM process and doesn’t affect the cutting rate or the part geometries. The copper or brass wire is fed an electric current that reacts with the conductive material, creating sparks and effectively melting the material away.

The option of wire EDM processing provides a different approach to traditional machining for large and or complex parts. Materials can be procured closer to final dimensioning, reducing the waste and cost of excess stock that will be machined off. Wire EDM is also considered a “lights out” operation. Once the part is programmed and set up it is a fairly autonomous process. While the machine operates continuously, efficiently and accurately at high speeds, large pieces can be manufactured more quickly with less labor.

Wire EDM gives us the ability to machine very brittle materials without damaging them by adding excess tool pressure in the process. The tool and the part do not make contact, allowing for delicate, thin walled, or weaker material to be fabricated without sacrificing accuracy or quality. Additionally, because this process is so accurate oftentimes no additional finishing is required to achieve the specifications.