Cutting with the diamond wire saw or eroding machine (EDM)

Diamond wire sawing is the most flexible cutting method in the field of quality assurance for component and material analysis. Thinnest cut-offs between 0.08 and 0.5 mm are possible. Due to the "gentle" cut, there is no significant heat input, so that even temperature-sensitive parts such as rubber can be cut. Both wet and dry cutting is possible. The cut-offs are usually precise, even and smooth. The cut edges are sharp-edged - without bridging. When cutting composite materials, there is no smearing between the different materials. Cutting heights of up to 375 mm are no problem. A disadvantage could be the cutting time due to the low feed rate, but this is less important in laboratories.

Due to these properties and the simple and safe operation of a diamond wire saw, more and more laboratories around the world are opting for this cutting technology or are supplementing their machine portfolio with it.

Electric discharge machining (EDM) is a relatively slow cutting process with which only conductive materials can be cut. Temperatures of up to 4000°C are generated. The heat energy is removed from the cutting gap by flushing with a dielectric. Due to these high temperatures, a change in the micro-structure of the edge layer occurs, which is why this process is only suitable to a limited extent for metallographic examinations. The cutting process is mostly used in tool making. Special wires with diameters of 0.03 to 0.3 mm are used as wear tools. With the help of a CNC control, wire EDM can produce complex contours with a very good surface quality. The operation of this process is complex and requires a high level of training.