Fine Hole EDM Drilling

Fine Hole EDM Drilling Capabilities

Producing holes smaller than the diameter of a human hair is no easy process. Harnessing decades of tight tolerance Sinker EDM experience, the team at EDM Intelligent Solutions is able to effectively machine holes in some of the hardest conductive materials available. We offer ultra-precision tolerances, as tight as 1µm, for an array of industries and micromanufacturing applications. Our 3-Axis and 5-Axis CNC small hole drilling electrical discharge machinery have the capacity to run multiple pipe electrode sizes, including micro-miniature pipes as small as 35µm (0.0014″) in diameter. We partner with suppliers worldwide to ensure continuous access to and timely delivery of micro pipe electrodes made to our exacting requirements from a variety of standard and exotic materials. This ensures that our EDM hole drilling machines are never left waiting for pipe electrodes to arrive while the drilling process is active 24/7. Extreme machining efficiencies are possible due to the integrated automation that changes both pipe electrodes and workpieces with no human intervention. This enhances overall productivity and saves our customers’ time and money. Our decades of EDM machining experience and state-of-the-art equipment enable us to provide repeatable quality parts and components from any type of conductive material.

We are continuously working with our technology partners to upgrade our CNC Fine Hole EDM Drilling machining capabilities to meet the ever-evolving needs of our diverse base of customers. We also complement our Fine Hole EDM capabilities with other manufacturing services like Precision Grinding and Micro Milling, as well as 3D measurement of machined components for full quality assurance.

Fine Hole EDM Drilling Specifics:

• Advanced 3-Axis and 5-Axis CNC Fine Hole Drilling EDMs built for efficient 24/7 operation
• Multiple pipe electrode materials are used like brass, copper and tungsten
• Workpieces up to 2″ thick are easily machined using Fine Hole EDM Drilling
• Micromachining Fine Hole EDM Drilling tolerances of 1µm and below
• Fine (micro) EDM drilled hole diameters from 300 microns (0.0012″) to as small as 40 microns (0.0016″)
• Surface Finishes down to 4Ra µin (micro inch) eliminate finishing and require no additional polishing
• Small quantities of 1-50+ pieces
• Contract Manufacturing of full production quantities of thousands of pieces

Fine Hole EDM Drilling Materials

EDMIS strives to meet your specific needs. Through strategic sourcing partnerships with a vast array of qualified material suppliers nationwide, we can manufacture your components from the exact materials that you require. Strict quality standards are met by all vendors and material suppliers to EDM Intelligent Solutions to ensure that the components we produce can meet the highest standards commonly required by the Aerospace, Automotive, Communications, Defense, Medical and Scientific industries.

When it comes to materials, Fine Hole EDM Drilling is compatible with a large range of metals that conventional machining, like drilling and milling, are not always cut out for. Hardened materials like tungsten carbide are no match for the Fine Hole EDM erosion process. Softer materials like copper are gently drilled by the energized pipe electrodes and extremely thin materials are protected from damage and accurately machined since the electrode never actually makes contact with the workpiece.

Fine Hole EDM Drilling Compatible Materials

EDM Intelligent Solutions has completed thousands of Fine Hole EDM Drilling projects using a diverse set of materials including those listed below. Don’t see your specific material on the list? Contact us to determine if that material can be cut using CNC Electrical Discharge Machining and how EDMIS can source that material for you.

• Aluminum
• Brass
• Copper
• Exotic Metals
• Molybdenum
• Titanium
• Tungsten
• Carbide
• Tool Steels
• A-2, A-5, A-6, A-8
• D-2, D-3, D-5
• DC-53
• H-11, H-12, H-13, H-19
• L-6
• M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4, M-42
• O-1, O-6
• S-1, S-7
• T-1

Common Fine Hole EDM Drilling Applications

When components require extremely small and deep holes and/or micro sized through holes, Fine Hole EDM Drilling should be considered. Fine Hole EDM services are well suited for parts requiring intricate tolerances, the limitation of material stress and thermal heating, and those needing superior surface roughness finishes. Small Hole Sinker EDM drilling is sometimes the only machining method that can produce such tiny holes when materials that are too hard or too brittle are required by design. Conventional machining methods like CNC drilling may not even have drills small enough available to match the sizes that Fine Hole EDM Drilling can produce. Through integrated machine automation, the quantities of parts being completed can easily be scaled up to meet the high volumes required by some of our largest customers.

This is just a small sample of all the types of components that EDM Intelligent Solutions has manufactured using our advanced Wire EDM machining processes. There really aren’t many types of parts that EDMIS has not worked on in some form over the last 25 years serving these industries. No project is too big or part too complex or tolerance too tight for EDM Intelligent Solutions which makes us the preferred partner for OEM manufacturers nationwide. To learn more about how EDMIS can help you contact our manufacturing team with your request for quote.

Sample Sinker EDM Applications

• Interconnect Components – holes for microminiature electrical contacts
• Fiber Optic Components – holes for micron sized glass fibers
• Medical Components – holes for miniature drug delivery systems
• Optical Lenses – holes for microminiature lens arrays
• Research & Development – holes for extremely tiny particle sensors
• Aerospace Industry – holes in jet engine turbine blades for cooling and fuel nozzle holes
• Automotive Industry – holes in fuel injectors
• Plastic Injection Molding – holes used as micro venting for miniature molds and applications using materials like liquid silicone rubber