Process & Material
Gold Wire EDM Precision Tolerance + Standard Finish Review
This Gold Wire EDM page combines a Precision tolerance target with a Standard surface target. These requirements must be planned together because finishing passes improve texture while also changing profile offset, cavity size, hole size, or edge geometry.
Quick Answer
For Gold, ±0.010–0.020 mm and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm are achievable on selected Wire EDM features when wire tension, guide alignment, kerf compensation, flushing, and planned trim passes are planned together. Apply both targets from the same datum, and reserve the tightest values for the dimensions and faces that control function.
Key Quality Decisions
What These Targets Mean
On Gold, ±0.010–0.020 mm controls the named dimensions and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm controls the named functional faces. In Wire EDM, trim passes correct profile offset and texture together, so guide alignment, flushing, and the final wire offset affect both targets. The supplied condition adds a separate risk: surface marking, thin-feature distortion and material recovery can matter more than discharge stability.
Getting Both Targets Right
Use one machining and inspection datum. Apply ±0.010–0.020 mm only to dimensions that control fit, and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm only to functional faces. Plan wire diameter, kerf compensation, flushing, wire tension, guide alignment, taper, and trim-pass stability. State the exact Gold condition and the inspection method before releasing the result.
What Gets Missed
On a narrow slot or profile specified at ±0.010–0.020 mm and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm, the top contour can be correct while the lower wall retains taper or a corner opens after the final trim. The tolerance represents a feature-level precision fit, while the last production pass changes both texture and final size; treating them as independent callouts can make the last finishing step destroy the dimension it is meant to improve. Inspect top, bottom, verticality, kerf, and internal radius after the final surface step. For Gold, also account for this material-specific risk: surface marking, thin-feature distortion and material recovery can matter more than discharge stability.
How the Targets Interact
For Gold, ±0.010–0.020 mm and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm are linked through the Wire EDM finishing route. Trim passes correct profile offset and texture together, so guide alignment, flushing, and the final wire offset affect both targets. The release plan must bind material condition, geometry, datum, finishing stage, and measurement to the same named features.
Wire EDM Capability Reference
| What you're asking | What you can expect |
|---|---|
| Feature types | through profiles, precision slots, punches, inserts, cutouts, narrow webs, and tapered walls |
| Tolerance | ±0.005–0.025 mm |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–3.2 μm |
| Wire diameter | 0.10–0.30 mm planning range |
| Minimum internal corner | Approximately wire radius plus spark gap |
| Main limitation | Blind cavities and closed pockets are not wire-cut features. |
Quality Target Reference
| Requirement | Planning range | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Precision tolerance | ±0.010–0.020 mm | Use stable datum control and a finishing strategy on the dimensions that govern fit. |
| Standard finish | Ra 1.6–3.2 μm | A practical production finish for many nonsealing and noncosmetic features. |
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. |
Tolerance & Surface Requirements
For Wire EDM at ±0.010–0.020 mm and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm, apply the finish only to the faces named on the drawing. On Gold, use protected fixturing, controlled finishing and recovery procedures for cut-off material. Roughness does not replace recast, edge, corrosion, crack, or post-process acceptance where those items affect function.
Gold Wire EDM Quality Checkpoints
- Mark the dimensions that actually need ±0.010–0.020 mm and use the same datum for machining and inspection.
- Circle the faces that need Ra 1.6–3.2 μm; leave nonfunctional surfaces at a practical production finish.
- State the Gold condition, Wire EDM finishing strategy, measurement method, and any recast or edge requirement.
Limits and Better Alternatives
Main Limit
±0.010–0.020 mm and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm are selected-feature planning references for Gold in Wire EDM, not unconditional whole-part guarantees.
Consider Another Route When
Use Sinker EDM for blind forms, CNC for accessible open geometry, or laser/waterjet when sheet-cutting speed matters more than EDM edge quality.
Practical Next Step
Send the Gold drawing with the Wire EDM features that need ±0.010–0.020 mm, the faces that need Ra 1.6–3.2 μm, the supplied condition, quantity, datums, and inspection method.
Practical Takeaway
On Gold, plan ±0.010–0.020 mm and Ra 1.6–3.2 μm together for the selected Wire EDM features. Use one datum and one inspection plan, and apply the tightest values only where they control function.
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: Wire EDM
- Material: Gold
- 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.