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World Electrical Discharge Machines Markets
Frost & Sullivan, Feb 2006
This Frost & Sullivan research service entitled World Electrical Discharge Machines Market provides a comprehensive analysis of this market and examines its applications in various end-user segments such as the automotive, aerospace and defense industries, medical applications, and machine shops. The research service also provides a detailed geographic analysis for each of these end user groups.
Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research service:
By End-user Segment
- Automotive
- Medical devices
- Aerospace and defense
- Machine shops
By Geographic Region
- North America (The United States of America, Mexico, and Canada)
- Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
- Asia Pacific
- Rest-of-World (comprising Latin America, Russia, and other countries)
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research service:
- Electrical Discharge Machines (EDMs): EDMs are high-precision metal removal machines that use thermal energy from a small spark (also known as a controlled electrical discharge) to vaporize metal from work pieces. An EDM system comprises of an electrical source that produces electrical spark discharges between the machine tool and work piece, the machine tool, computer controls, handling, and all relevant components integral to its operation. In the electrical discharge machining process, the cutting tool connects to the power supply and acts like an electrode. The metal work-piece is submerged in a dielectric fluid (electrically non-conducting) and separated from the tool by a very small spark gap. As the spark travels to the work piece from the tool, the metal from the work piece vaporizes or melts, while the fluid cools the metal work piece and flushes away debris.
- Die Sinker EDM: In this type of EDM, an electrode to which electrical current is applied burns through and cuts metal. The electrode is a shaped piece of graphite, copper or copper alloy.
- Wire EDM: In wire EDM, a thin copper, brass or combination (alloy) wire with a 0.004 to 0.013 mm diameter is used. An electric current is applied to the wire, which acts as a cutting surface and moves through the metal component.
- Small-hole EDM: Small-hole EDMs have electrodes similar to rod-like tubes with diameters ranging from 0.004 to 0.250 inches. The tube rotates concentrically for even wear as it sinks into the metal work piece.
Market Overview
Attracting End Users Presents a Strong Challenge for Electrical Discharge Machine Vendors
While a few major vendors dominate the global electrical discharge machines (EDM) market, developing economies such as China and India are favoring local machine builders that make and sell EDMs at significantly lower prices. Customers are increasingly demanding low-cost machines since many of them do not perceive a critical need for EDMs and their applications. This trend, combined with rising expenditure on research and development as well as marketing, has affected the competitiveness of major participants, especially in markets that demand less expensive machines.
However, due to recent technological developments, EDMs now have additional features such as the ability to integrate with other machining processes as well as automate them. Large multinational companies, therefore, need to educate end users on these advancements and their potential benefits. Vendors need to promote the benefits of the latest EDM technologies that include the ability to machine nano parts, download computer-aided design (CAD) files directly and convert them into machine codes, and drill fine holes, says the analyst of this research service. As customers realize the advantages of these technologically superior machines that can perform multiple functions, EDMs are expected to witness greater demand.
Increasing Need for Complex and Faster Designs Acts in Favor of EDMs
One of the key factors driving EDMs’ growth is their increasing use in a variety of end-user industries such as medical devices, electronics, automotive, metalworking and parts manufacturing. All these industries use complicated and intricate designs that cannot be accurately machined with conventional processes. EDMs can do a far more precise job in lesser time due to their contactless machining process, making them the preferred option within many end-user industries. Moreover, EDMs use the spark erosion technology that enables the machining to be carried out with ease and eliminates the need for a further finishing process.
With their contactless machining and technologies such as linear motors, EDMs have the ability to machine tough contours with greater accuracy, notes the analyst. Companies prefer these machines as they can save labor costs as well as increase productivity and quality, which are important requirements. EDM vendors are constantly innovating products and have introduced machines with the capability to achieve a surface finish of nearly 0.25 umRa with very small wire diameters that can reach a speed of 360 mm sq/minute. These products have greatly widened the scope of EDMs, particularly in the electronics and automotive industries that require high-precision machines.
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