CNC electrical discharge machines (EDMs) use the same spark technology as wire EDMs, but they work in a different way.
Instead of using a wire electrode, CNC EDMs use graphite or copper electrodes. The electrode is machined on a CNC mill to create a negative of the desired cutting pattern.
The electrode is then lowered into close proximity to the workpiece surface. Sparks are generated between the electrode and the workpiece, which erode the material away until the electrode’s shape is copied.
CNC EDMs are used to create complex shapes in hard materials that would be difficult or impossible to machine with other methods.
