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CNC Machining for Aerospace
The extremely high level of precision needed within the aerospace industry makes CNC machining a suitable manufacturing process for the sector. This article provides you with a complete guide to aerospace machining and its importance.
Choose from 50+ metals and plastics for your project.
CNC Machining eBook
If you want to produce high-quality machined parts with a sleek appearance, it’s essential to consider some critical factors related to CNC machining. Here, we’ve gathered some basic information and important considerations to help you achieve the desired results.
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Get precision machined parts with our advanced cutting solutions, perfect for complex geometries.
High precision with tolerance up to +/-.0001”
Auto threading with enhanced thermal stability
Turnaround time as low as 24 hours
Wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) stands out as a subtractive manufacturing marvel. It’s a technique where electrical sparks shape and carve through conductive materials. What sets Wire EDM apart? Its unmatched precision. Using a fine electrically charged wire—often brass or copper—guided by advanced CNC systems, the process meticulously erodes materials, achieving intricate and accurate designs.
However, mastering Wire EDM isn’t simple. It demands expertise to ensure consistent, high quality results. That’s where RapidDirect steps in. Drawing upon years of experience and innovation, we harness Wire EDM’s full potential, transforming complex designs into tangible, high-quality products. But we don’t stop at just delivering what the market expects. At RapidDirect, we’re on a mission: pushing the boundaries, setting new benchmarks in precision machining, and, most importantly, ensuring our clients receive the unparalleled solutions they deserve.
Why Choose Our Wire EDM Service
When it comes to precision manufacturing, Wire EDM stands out as a process that offers high accuracy and intricate detailing. For businesses seeking the best in Wire EDM services, RapidDirect is the go-to choice.
State-of-the-Art Technology
RapidDirect uses top-tier, regularly updated machinery, ensuring clients receive workpieces machined to the highest standards of precision and accuracy.
Expertise and Experience
With years of experience, our specialists onsistently deliver products that surpass client expectations, reflecting our mastery in manufacturing intricacies.
Online Ordering and Quoting
RapidDirect's online platform offers instant quotes and real-time order tracking. Streamline your projects with our efficient, transparent system for maximum convenience in the digital age.
Quick Turnaround Times
In our fast-paced world, RapidDirect ensures quick project turnarounds without compromising on quality, thanks to our efficient processes and dedicated team.
Wire EDM for Prototyping & Production
RapidDirect is a comprehensive all-in-one manufacturing platform designed for all the needs of your Wire EDM projects.
Rapid Prototyping
At RapidDirect we understand the importance of speed and accuracy in the prototyping phase. Our Wire EDM services empower you to bring your concepts to life in the shortest possible time.
Capability: 20-500
Lead Time: 10 business days
Low Volume Manufacturing
We specialize in delivering low-volume manufacturing solutions that ensure your parts are meticulously crafted with consistency and precision throughout every piece.
Capacity: 500-1000
Lead Time: 15 business days
High Volume Manufacturing
RapidDirect consistently delivers top-quality results, from single prototypes to large product batches, without compromising reliability.
Capacity: 1000+
Lead Time: 20 business days
Wire EDM Part Size Standards
Parameter
Small Parts (mm)
Medium Parts (mm)
Large Parts (mm)
Maximum Length
50
100
500
Maximum Width
30
70
300
Maximum Height
10
40
150
Minimum Thickness
0.5
1.0
5.0
Tolerance
±0.005
±0.01
±0.03
Metals for Wire EDM
Our experts at RapidDirect have pride in their capability to work with a wide range of materials that can open up a world of possibilities for your projects. A few of the materials can handle are:
A popular choice in industries seeking lightweight yet durable components. We can precisely cut and shape aluminum parts for aerospace, automotive, electronics, and more.
Copper’s excellent electrical and thermal conductivity makes it indispensable for electrical components, connectors, and conductive elements. Our expertise ensures that copper parts are crafted with utmost precision to ensure that the resulting parts maintain their core properties.
With its appealing aesthetic and excellent machinability, brass finds applications in decorative components, electronics, and plumbing fittings. Our Wire EDM process guarantees intricate and accurate brass parts in the shortest lead time.
From tool steels to stainless steels, our Wire EDM services can handle a variety of steel alloys. We deliver precise and consistent results and fulfill the requirements of industries like automotive, tool and die, and precision engineering.
As a challenging material to machine, titanium requires a specialized approach for optimal results. Our Wire EDM expertise allows us to tackle titanium components with the highest level of precision. Thereby making it an excellent choice for aerospace, medical, and performance engineering applications.
Bronze is valued for its unique combination of strength and corrosion resistance, making it suitable for bearings, gears, and artistic applications. Since Bronze is expensive, any waste can have a significant impact on the cost. Our Wire EDM technology ensures excellent results with minimal waste along with the shortest turnaround time.
Our Wire EDM capabilities extend beyond the common materials. We are proficient in working with precious metals like gold and silver, as well as various nickel alloys. Whatever your specific material requirements, we have the expertise to deliver exceptional results.
Global experience that counts. Our committed team at RapidDirect has the right skills and expertise to fulfill various industrial requirements. Some of the industries that we work with are:
Aerospace: Achieve lightweight and high-strength components with our Wire EDM services while not compromising on stringent aviation standards.
Medical: Trust us with your critical medical parts that require utmost precision and cleanliness.
Automotive: Enhance your automotive components' performance and durability with our accurate machining.
Electronics: Precision is key in the electronics industry, and we ensure your components meet the highest standards.
Manufacturing: Get intricate and precise tool and die components for your manufacturing processes.
Energy: Optimize your energy components with our Wire EDM services to ensure efficiency and reliability.
Wire EDM Process
It’s important to remember that Wire EDM is an erosion process as opposed to other subtractive processes that rely on cutting. So, it has different surface properties that often rely on the number of passes (iterative cuts) for the optimum level of finish. Here’s how we go about it.
First Pass (Rough Cut)
A rougher finish to quickly achieve the design with a tolerance of +/- .002’. About 90% of wire EDM parts only need the first pass as the tolerance is acceptable for a lot of applications and surface finishing requirements.
Second Pass (Finishing Cut)
For more advanced applications, a second pass with more refinement can achieve tolerances of up to +/- 0.0005” along with a surface finish of 72 µin, which is almost indiscernible to the eye.
Third Pass (More Granular Details)
This is the most refined cut with the finest finish that is needed for highly sensitive applications like medical devices and aerospace components. The third pass can bring the surface finish down to 35 µin, which is more than needed for many wire EDM applications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Wire EDM machine hard materials?
Yes, Wire EDM is capable of machining hard materials effectively. Its non-contact process, which uses electrical discharges to erode the material and allows it to work with materials that are difficult to machine using conventional methods.
Materials like hardened steels, tool steels, titanium, and carbide can be precisely machined using Wire EDM. This makes it a preferred choice for industries requiring high hardness and wear resistance.
2. How precise is Wire EDM?
Wire EDM is renowned for its exceptional precision and accuracy. It can achieve tolerances as tight as ±0.0001 inches (0.0025 mm). Thereby ensuring consistent and repeatable results.
The process is capable of producing intricate and delicate features with superior surface finishes which makes it ideal for applications where precision is critical.
3. What shapes can Wire EDM create?
Wire EDM can create a wide range of shapes and geometries, limited only by the imagination and complexity of the designs.
It excels at producing intricate contours, sharp corners, small holes, and complex 3D shapes. Whether it’s internal features, external profiles, or unconventional shapes, Wire EDM can accurately cut and shape them with ease.
4. What are the main limitations of Wire EDM?
While Wire EDM offers many advantages, it does have some limitations. One of the main limitations is the requirement for materials to be conductive, as the process relies on electrical discharges. Additionally, the cutting speed of Wire EDM is slower compared to some traditional machining methods, which can impact production time for large quantities.
Furthermore, the initial setup and programming can be time-consuming for complex parts, but this is offset by the high precision and efficiency achieved during the actual machining process.
5. Can Wire EDM cut very thick materials?
Wire EDM is primarily designed for the precision cutting of thin to moderate-thickness materials. While it can handle materials up to several inches thick, cutting very thick materials becomes challenging and time-consuming due to the slower cutting speeds and the need for multiple passes.