Advanced Machining Technology to Look Out for When Hiring a Precision-Machining Service Provider
Posted on: 7 December 2016
Using metals to build large structures like warehouses and storage units is one of the most reliable and cost-effective construction techniques. The process is quite fast when compared to traditional techniques that rely on materials like stones and bricks. Notably, you will need lots of cutting, drilling, sawing, shaping and milling of the large metal sheets, posts and rods before all the pieces are in good shape for your structure. A machining vendor can help you with this, although their efficiency, precision and quality depend on the technology that he or she has. The latest technology in the market guarantees limited material wastage while keeping process costs low. Here are some of the latest advancements to look out for.
Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM)
EDM is also referred to as spark eroding, spark machining, burning or wire erosion. In EDM, the desired shape of your metal fittings will be achieved using sparks or electrical discharges. To electrodes and a dielectric fluid (liquid that can conduct electricity) are used in the setup. There is no actual contact between the two electrodes, but electric current flows between them via the dielectric fluid.
When the fabricator increases the voltage supply, a material is stripped off from the workpiece, shaping it into the desired design. Certainly, EDM is effective at producing shapes that would otherwise be hard to produce using conventional cutting tools.
Burnishing
Burnishing refers to the plastic deformation of material because of a sliding effect against the surface of another material. Take the case of a hardened plate and a hardened ball for proper illustration. If the ball is pressed and rolled over the surface of the tough plate, deformation occurs as the two materials smear against each other. Ideally, the softer material always undergoes the highest level of transformation and change in shape.
Electron-beam machining (EBM)
When you need fast and precise drilling or boring through metals, electron-beam machining is the right method to turn to. The process employs high-velocity electrons that are skewed into a narrow beam, which is directed toward the material that you want to bore or drill. Due to the high velocity of the electrons and the fact that they are focused on a particular point of the work piece, a heat zone is generated to vapourise the workpiece and create a precise hole. Overall, the surface finish of the drilled zone is superb, and the kerf width is better than most of the other processes used in thermal cutting.
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