BeginnerTopic 24 of 102Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems
Non-traditional machining
EDM, laser and waterjet cut hard or delicate materials.
In depth
EDM erodes conductive material with sparks (wire and sinker), ECM dissolves it electrochemically, laser and plasma cut by heat, waterjet by erosion, ultrasonic by abrasive vibration, chemical milling by etchant. Suitable for hard materials, complex shapes and no tool contact forces.
Key points
- Heat-affected and recast layers
- Tolerance and speed
- Cost per part
ExampleWire EDM cuts hardened tool steel dies with ±0.005 mm accuracy.
Non-traditional machining removes material without conventional cutting forces, which is valuable for hard, brittle or delicate parts.
What is Non-traditional machining?
EDM, laser and waterjet cut hard or delicate materials.
Why is it important to understand non-traditional machining?
Non-traditional machining removes material without conventional cutting forces, which is valuable for hard, brittle or delicate parts.
What is electrical discharge machining?
Material is eroded by sparks between an electrode and the workpiece in a dielectric fluid, which works for any conductive material regardless of hardness.
What is the advantage of waterjet cutting?
It cuts without heat, so it avoids heat-affected zones and can cut thick and heat-sensitive materials.
How is Non-traditional machining used in practice?
Typical applications include cutting a fine hole in a turbine blade with EDM, cutting a precise profile in a thin plate with a laser and cutting a food or composite part with a high-pressure water jet.
What should I learn before Non-traditional machining?
Study "Tool life and Taylor equation" first (topic 23 of 102 in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Non-traditional machining?
Heat-affected and recast layers. Tolerance and speed. Cost per part.
Can you give an example of Non-traditional machining?
Wire EDM cuts hardened tool steel dies with ±0.005 mm accuracy.
What comes after Non-traditional machining?
The next topic is "CNC machining", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Non-traditional machining?
It is classed as Beginner in Manufacturing, Robotics & Systems (topic 24 of 102). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.