1998 Volume 32 Issue 69 Pages 75-80
The conventional die sinking machining uses shaped electrodes as tools. By the EDM Milling machining, the shape of the cavity is generated by the automatically controlled movement of an cylindrical electrode. Due to the length of the machining path, the wear of the electrode becomes important. For the mastering of the wear, a specific software was developed based on original algorithms. The main advantages of this process are: a simplified manufacturing process of dies, a shorter production time of the tools and no necessity to machine mechanically shaped electrodes. Some practical examples of tools machined by this process illustrates the field of applications of the EDM Milling and shows that 20 to 30% of the EDM applications can be covered with the EDM Milling. This new process opens up an alternative between die sinking and wire cutting machining.