Process & Material
Gold Micro EDM Thickness Review (5–20 Mm)
Gold at 5–20 mm changes how Micro EDM must be supported, flushed, finished, and inspected. The controlling dimension is feature size, electrode size, aspect ratio, discharge stability, fixturing and measurement resolution, not merely the outside stock size.
Quick Answer
For Micro EDM on Gold, treat 5–20 mm as a setup input rather than a guaranteed accuracy band. Confirm the real feature size, electrode size, aspect ratio, discharge stability, fixturing and measurement resolution, material condition, datum, functional faces, and inspection method before assigning tolerance or finish.
Key Thickness Decisions
What This Thickness Range Means
Stock thickness affects access, but micro feature size, electrode wear and measurement remain the primary limits. On Gold, the supplied condition still changes support and surface response. This is the Micro EDM thickness decision; it does not turn the range into a machine promise.
Choosing the Right Setup
For Micro EDM on Gold at 5–20 mm, plan electrode wear, feature-to-electrode ratio, micro-flushing, aspect ratio, edge radius, thermal stability, and measurement resolution. Then state the supplied condition, support the functional features, and define surface and inspection requirements separately. Apply the tightest tolerance and finest finish only to the dimensions and faces that control function.
What to Watch For
At 5–20 mm, the failure is not simply “too thick” or “too deep.” At 5 mm depth, a 0.3 mm electrode can often complete the feature with one electrode and standard flushing. At 20 mm, the same feature may need two or three staged electrodes, flushing through or beside the electrode, and measurement verification at depth rather than only at the entry face. Cycle time can be roughly 3–5 times longer for the same diameter because wear and debris travel increase. If the setup ignores that physical progression, the named feature can pass at the accessible face while failing at depth, at the exit, or after unclamping. The Gold condition must be included in the same inspection decision.
Technical Context
A fine electrode and low-energy pulses remove very small volumes without cutting force. At 5–20 mm, At 5 mm depth, a 0.3 mm electrode can often complete the feature with one electrode and standard flushing. At 20 mm, the same feature may need two or three staged electrodes, flushing through or beside the electrode, and measurement verification at depth rather than only at the entry face. Cycle time can be roughly 3–5 times longer for the same diameter because wear and debris travel increase. Control electrode stiffness and wear, micron-scale gap stability, micro-flushing, thermal drift, and metrology resolution. For Gold, the supplied condition still determines support and surface acceptance.
Micro EDM Capability Reference
| What you're asking | What you can expect |
|---|---|
| Feature types | micro holes, micro slots, miniature cavities, fine pins, and sub-millimeter precision details |
| Tolerance | ±0.002–0.010 mm |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.1–1.6 μm |
| Feature scale | Sub-millimeter holes, slots, and cavities |
| Primary micro limit | Electrode wear and measurement resolution |
| Main limitation | Loose-tolerance or easily accessible features are rarely economical with Micro EDM. |
Thickness Range Reference
| Thickness or depth input | What it means for this process |
|---|---|
| 5–20 mm | Stock thickness affects access, but micro feature size, electrode wear and measurement remain the primary limits. |
| Primary controls | Plan feature depth, electrode size, aspect ratio, discharge stability, edge allowance, and measurement method. |
Material Condition Reference
| Condition | What to expect | Watch out for | Surface notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| annealed | Use stable support and economical roughing. | Clamping and material condition can move delicate features. | Apply fine finishing only to functional faces. |
| work-hardened | Balance dimensional stability with feature-specific finishing. | Residual stress can shift thin sections or small details. | Identify wear, seal, fatigue, or contact surfaces. |
| finished or plated condition | Use conservative energy and selective inspection. | Finished or hardened surfaces can be sensitive to edge damage and recast. | Use lower-energy finishing or post-processing where function requires it. |
Thickness Impact
Gold is a very soft, dense and highly conductive precious metal. In the 5–20 mm setup, state the supplied condition, support the functional features, and define surface and inspection requirements separately. The material condition changes support and surface response, while Micro EDM determines how the feature is accessed and controlled.
Surface and Edge Control
For Micro EDM on Gold at 5–20 mm, inspect the functional face or edge from its own datum. Use protected fixturing, controlled finishing and recovery procedures for cut-off material. Keep texture, edge condition, recast, corrosion protection, and post-processing as separate acceptance items when service requires them.
Gold Micro EDM Thickness Checkpoints
- Show the actual feature access depth represented by 5–20 mm, not only the outside part size.
- Plan feature depth, electrode size, aspect ratio, discharge stability, edge allowance, and measurement method.
- Mark the functional tolerance, finish, datum, and inspection method on the drawing.
Limits and Better Alternatives
Main Limit
The 5–20 mm label cannot replace the real feature size, electrode size, aspect ratio, discharge stability, fixturing and measurement resolution or the supplied Gold condition. Surface marking, thin-feature distortion and material recovery can matter more than discharge stability.
Consider Another Route When
Use conventional EDM for larger features, precision laser processing for suitable thin geometry, or mechanical micro-drilling where a tool can reach.
Practical Next Step
Send the Gold drawing with its condition, the actual feature access depth in the 5–20 mm range, feature geometry, controlled tolerance, surface requirement, quantity, and inspection method.
Practical Takeaway
For Gold at 5–20 mm, plan Micro EDM from the real feature axis, support, debris control, and inspection method instead of treating the range as a blanket capability statement.
Technical Reference
Use the values as planning references and define the functional requirement on the controlled drawing.
Use This Guide to Prepare Your RFQ
Contact us when your drawing and requirements are ready for review.
- Process: Micro EDM
- Material: Gold
- Thickness: 5–20 mm
- Drawing or part sketch
- Material grade
- Thickness / part size
- Quantity
STEP/STP, DXF, DWG, PDF, IGS/IGES or ZIP.
Confidential drawing review. NDA support available on request.