How does Electro-Chemical Machining work?

Header About ECM

How does Electro-Chemical Machining work?

How does Electro-Chemical Machining work? Also known as ECM, the Electro-Chemical Machining process uses the basic principles of electrolysis to remove material from a workpiece at the ionic level. A shaped electrode is brought towards the workpiece in a flowing electrolyte solution, typically NaNO3.

A current is applied through the electrolyte and the workpiece takes on an inverse of the electrode. Any waste products, mainly hydrogen and metal hydroxides, are flushed away by the electrolyte flow. As there is no physical contact between any machining parts, the end product is not affected by the process. There is no heat-affected zone/recast layer and no electrode wear.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS 

  • Complex Aerospace Components 
  • Precision Components 
  • Polishing Systems 
  • Turbine Blade Production 

APPLICABLE MATERIALS 

  • Ti -6Al-4V Titanium Alloy 
  • C250 Maraging Steel 
  • Hi Nickel Alloys 
  • Stainless Steels 
  • Tool Steels 
  • Tungsten Carbide (WC-Co) 
  • Titanium Aluminide 

BENEFITS

  • Very high stock removal rates 
  • Submicoron surface finish 
  • No brittle re-cast layer 
  • No heat effected zone 
  • Zero Cathode wear 
  • Very stable process 
  • Extremely repeatable 
  • Very fast ROI 

 

The ECM Process by PECMPECM is a contactless, precision machining process. Using anodic dissolution, the inverse image of the cathode tool is ‘copied’ precisely into the metallic work-piece.

There are no machining forces, no heat affected zone (HAZ) so the metallurgical properties of the work-piece remain intact.
Our proprietary electronic hardware samples the machining gap at almost 1,000,000 times per second. This in-depth analysis of the process allows real time optimisation of the electrochemical machining parameters.

Our process is fast, efficient and can be used with traditionally difficult to machine superalloys such as Hastelloy and Inconel.

Accuracy, repeatability, quality is why our technology is used around the world in wide ranging applications. PECM Systems’ machines manufacture critical aerospace components as well as parts used in the semiconductor and medical manufacturing processes.

Would you like to know more about how the ECM process works? Contact us here now.

pECM Israel

 

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