These processes use mechanical energy but rely on erosion rather than shearing, often using abrasives.
These remove material by localized melting or vaporization using intense heat. alternatives to traditional machining
He dropped the printed part into a bubbling tank. This wasn’t machining either. It was —a bath of electrolyte and current that dissolved microscopic peaks but left the valleys untouched. The part emerged shining, smoother than anything her old mill could produce. These processes use mechanical energy but rely on
Traditional machining relies on mechanical forces to shear away material. This presents limitations that alternative processes seek to overcome: This wasn’t machining either
Jensen walked by with coffee. “You’re a convert.”
Uses controlled electrical sparks between an electrode and the workpiece in a dielectric fluid. It is the go-to for complex shapes in hardened steel.
These processes use chemical reactions (facilitated by electricity) to dissolve the workpiece material.