Disadvantage Of EDM: Metal removal rate is slow,therefore,this process should only be used where

other conventional machining processes are not suitable as machining cost are very high.Power
requirment is very heavy.Reproduction of sharp corners is the limitation of the process.Surface cracking
may take place in some materials owing to their affinity to become brittle at room temperature
especially when higher energy per pulse is used.Also the distortion of surface microstructure by this
process is detrimental to some cases and necessitates subsequent etching.Workpiece metal must be an
electrical conductor.

Applications Of EDM: This process is used for shaping alloy steel and tungsten carbide dies,used for
moulding,forging,extrusion,wire drawing or suitable mould cavities,press tools and to give any intricate
shape or profile.

Fine slits can be made by using a wire electrode.

By this method a hole as small as 0.1 mm in diameter can be made.

This process is very usefull for making of nozzles,other holes,shapes,profiles and embossing,engraving
operations on harder materials.

Internal threads and internal helical gears can be cut in hardened materials by using a rotary spindle and
suitable attachments.

It is also used for production work for special applications where the oil retention roperties of the work
surface are important.

Accuracy upto 0.005 mm can be obtained.

Maximum metal removal rate in rough machining is 520 mm3/mt for hardened too steel materials and
for good surface finish 15 mm3/min or less than this.

If gap between work and tool is more,value ofU is more and,therefore,metal removal at will be
more.Hence,by adjusting value of U,i.e. adjusting value of resistance R we can adjust the gap b/w work
and tool, and thus obtain different machining rates.A number of accessories are available which
anhance the applications of EDM.