Wire-EDM cost: cut length, height, material and skim cuts.
Wire-EDM time follows from the cut length, the part height, the material and the number of skim cuts. ARCNM reads the contours from your STEP model, and you can record your erosion machines with their hour rates. It does not yet send a contour to the wire on its own. Today a part that needs wire EDM is priced on its milling route, so check those parts before you quote.
At a glance
- Inputs
- STEP model with through-contours or cutouts; drawing optional
- Machine classes
- your erosion machines, each with its own hour rate; automatic routing to the wire not yet available
- Standards applied
- ISO 286 · DIN 8580
- DfM checks
- face not 3-axis reachable (advisory), sharp internal corner
- You get
- today: the unit cost per lot size on the part's milling route
What ARCNM does with a wire-EDM part today
ARCNM reads the through-contours and cutouts from the STEP model. Your erosion machines can be part of your fleet, each with its own hour rate. The step that routes a contour to the wire is not live yet. It matters most where the drawing says the contour is cut after hardening. Until then, ARCNM prices such a part on its milling route. Review it before you quote.
Wire EDM, laser, plasma or waterjet?
Wire EDM earns its place where the others cannot go. It cuts hardened steel and carbide after heat treatment. It holds the tightest contour tolerances. It leaves only a recast layer a few micrometres deep. Laser wins on thin steel with many holes. Plasma wins on thick mild steel. Waterjet wins where heat or reflective materials rule the others out. Thickness and cut length drive all four — erosion simply costs more for every millimetre.
What drives wire-EDM cost?
- Part height and cut length — erosion is slow, and every millimetre of both costs time.
- Material: hardened tool steel, titanium and carbide erode slower than aluminium.
- Surface finish and precision: every skim cut for a finer finish or a tighter contour is one more pass.
- Start holes, fixturing and setup, spread over the lot. Plus the machine-hour rate.
Wire EDM against the cutting classes
| Wire EDM | Fibre laser | Waterjet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | µm-class, sharp internal corners limited only by wire radius | ±0.1 mm class, edge less square on thick sheet | ±0.1–0.2 mm, taper without dynamic head |
| Material state | any conductive material, hardened included | soft and hardened, thickness-limited | anything |
| Speed | slowest — thick, long contours take longest | fastest on thin sheet | slow |
| Typical use | punches, dies, gauges, hardened profiles | sheet parts | thick plate, heat-sensitive stock |
Read on
Frequently asked questions
How much does wire EDM cost per hour?
The rate comes from the machine's depreciation, utilisation, energy and operator time. ARCNM builds hour rates from your own fleet rather than a market average, including the erosion machines you record.
Does the material change the wire-EDM price?
Yes. Hardened tool steel, titanium and carbide erode slower than aluminium. The same contour therefore takes longer, and costs more, in a hardened die plate than in an aluminium plate.