Editing Electrical discharge machining (section)

==Advantages and disadvantages==
EDM is often compared to [[electrochemical machining]].
Advantages of EDM include:
*Ability to machine complex shapes that would otherwise be difficult to produce with conventional cutting tools.
*Machining of extremely hard material to very close tolerances.
*Very small work pieces can be machined where conventional cutting tools may damage the part from excess cutting tool pressure.
*There is no direct contact between tool and work piece. Therefore, delicate sections and weak materials can be machined without perceivable distortion.
*A good surface finish can be obtained; a very good surface may be obtained by redundant finishing paths.
*Very fine holes can be attained.
*Tapered holes may be produced.
*Pipe or container internal contours and internal corners down to R 0.001".

Disadvantages of EDM include:
*Difficulty finding expert machinists.
*The slow rate of material removal.
*Potential fire hazard associated with use of combustible oil based dielectrics.
*The additional time and cost used for creating electrodes for ram/sinker EDM.
*Reproducing sharp corners on the workpiece is difficult due to electrode wear.
*Specific power consumption is very high.
*Power consumption is high.
*"Overcut" is formed.
*Excessive tool wear occurs during machining.
*[[Insulator (electricity)|Electrically non-conductive materials]] can be machined only with specific set-up of the process.<ref>{{cite journal |title=A New Method for Machining of Electrically Nonconductive Workpieces Using Electric Discharge Machining Technique |journal=Machining Science and Technology |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=189 |year=2010 |last1=Kucukturk |first1=G. |last2=Cogun |first2=C. |s2cid=138552270 |doi=10.1080/10910344.2010.500497}} (2010).</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Okunkova |first1=Anna A. |last2=Volosova |first2=Marina A. |last3=Hamdy |first3=Khaled |last4=Gkhashim |first4=Khasan I. |date=February 2023 |title=Electrical Discharge Machining of Alumina Using Cu-Ag and Cu Mono- and Multi-Layer Coatings and ZnO Powder-Mixed Water Medium |journal=Technologies |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=6 |issn=2227-7080 |doi=10.3390/technologies11010006 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
*A recast layer is formed at the cut surface due to melting of the material by the arc.