| Wires used in a wire electrical discharge machining | | | | electrical conductivity. The copper and zinc alloys |
| system are the core of the system. These wires | | | | provide higher tensile strength. The coatings are |
| act as electrodes that produce electrical erosion | | | | mainly of beta and gamma phase brass and in |
| to separate the material from the conductive | | | | layers. |
| piece. | | | | Specialty wires are also available for specific |
| The regular economy brass EDM wire is very | | | | tasks, such as the Compeed EDM wire. This EDM |
| cost effective and especially the choice of cost | | | | wire has a steel core with an intermediate layer |
| conscious operators. Though the wire is cheaper, | | | | of copper and an outer layer of beta phase brass. |
| it still promises good quality and is consistent, | | | | The Compeed EDM wire is extensively used |
| clean and straight. The brass wires are even | | | | where excessive breakage is a problem. Similarly, |
| available in the high performance brass EDM wire | | | | molybdenum EDM wire is highly favored for |
| range. This wire is mainly alloyed with a higher | | | | applications requiring a wire diameter between |
| percentage of zinc than the standard variety. | | | | .002' and .006'. Molybdenum EDM wires have a |
| Many users prefer these wires, as they believe | | | | high melting point and high tensile strength. |
| that the higher zinc content promotes speed. | | | | Tungsten wires are widely used for applications |
| High performance coated EDM wires are getting | | | | requiring lower diameter. They too have a high |
| increasingly popular with wire electrical discharge | | | | melting point and high tensile strength, but low |
| machining users. The zinc coated brass wire is | | | | electrical conductivity and high cost. The other |
| preferred, as it enables higher speed for cutting. | | | | specialty EDM wires include, aluminum and brass |
| Wires are also produced using different types of | | | | silicon alloyed and zinc rich brass wires. |
| core materials, such as pure copper, for better | | | | |