http://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Electrical_discharge_machining

http://www.typesofwelding.net/classification_of_welding.html Esta es muy completa ahi estn todos los tipos de soldadura y diagramas y fotos.

Wire EDM Machining Process

Wire EDM machining (Electrical Discharge Machining) is an electro thermal production process in which a thin singlestrand metal wire in conjunction with de-ionized water (used to conduct electricity) allows the wire to cut through metal by the use of heat from electrical sparks.

Due to the inherent properties of the process, wire EDM can easily machine complex parts and precision components out of hard conductive materials.

How Wire EDM Works

Wire EDM machining (also known as "spark EDM") works by creating an electrical discharge between the wire or electrode, & the workpiece. As the spark jumps across the gap, material is removed from both the workpiece & the electrode.

To stop the sparking process from shorting out, a non conductive fluid or dielectric is also applied. The waste material is removed by the dielectric, and the process continues.

Wire EDM Machining According to Wikipedia.org:

"...In [wire EDM machining], a thin single-strand metal wire, usually brass, is fed through the workpiece. The wire, which is constantly fed from a spool, is held between upper and lower guides. The guides move in the X-Y plane, and sometimes the upper guide can also move independently giving rise to transitioning shapes (circle on the bottom square at the top). This gives the Wire EDM the ability to be programmed to cut very intricate and delicate shapes. The wire-cut uses water as its dielectric with the water's resistivity and other electrical properties carefully controlled by filters and de-ionizer units."

Sinker EDM Machining Process

The sinker EDM machining (Electrical Discharge Machining) process uses an electrically charged electrode that is configured to a specific geometry to burn the geometry of the electrode into a metal component. The sinker EDM process is commonly used in the production of dies and molds.

How Sinker EDM works

Two metal parts submerged in an insulating liquid are connected to a source of current which is switched on and off automatically depending on the parameters set on the controller. When the current is switched on, an electric tension is created between the two metal parts.

If the two parts are brought together to within a fraction of an inch, the electrical tension is discharged and a spark jumps across. Where it strikes, the metal is heated up so much that it melts.

Innumerable such sparks spray, one after the other (never simultaneously) and gradually shape the desired form in the piece of metal, according to the shape of the electrode. Several hundred thousand sparks must fly per second before erosion takes place.

Die-sinking EDM Machining

In the case of die-sinking EDM, the required shape is formed negatively in the metal with a three-dimensional electrode. By superimposed movements in the main axes x, y, c, z, the most varied shapes, indentations and cavities

are created, such as cannot in part be achieved by any other machining system.

For example, a helicoid cavity or a rectangular hole in one single steel block or the machining of an extremely thin, hardened steel sheet that may not be subjected to any mechanical pressure.

EDM Machining Metalwork Examples

Following are some EDM machining metalwork examples. Click each sample to view larger:

The Process of Welding

We're all suited up and ready to start welding. Most welding done today falls into one of two categories: arc welding and torch welding.

Arc welding uses an electrical arc to melt the work materials as well as filler material (sometimes called the welding rod) for welding joints. Arc welding involves attaching a grounding wire to the welding material or other metal surface. Another wire known as an

electrode lead is placed on the material to be welded. Once that lead is pulled away from the material, an electric arc is generated. It's a little like the sparks you see when pulling jumper cables off a car battery. The arc then melts the work pieces along with the filler material that helps to join the pieces. Feeding the filler into the welding joint takes steady hands and an eye for detail. As the rod melts, the welder must continuously feed the filler into the joint using small, steady, back-andforth motions. These motions are what gives welds their distinctive appearance. Going too fast or slow, or holding the arc too close or far away from the material can create poor welds. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW or stick welding), gas metal arc welding (more commonly known as metal inert gas, or MIG, welding) and gas tungsten arc welding (frequently called tungsten inert gas, or TIG, welding) all exemplify arc welding.
Welding to the Extreme White-hot electrical arcs and torches aren't child's play, but there are more extreme ways to weld. Explosion welding uses the pressure created by the blast of high-powered explosions to bond metals. Laser-beam welding relies on powerful lasers to melt metals together. Ultrasonic welding uses highfrequency vibrations to cause the molecules of metal to resonate and join.

These three common methods each offer unique advantages and drawbacks. Stick welding, for instance, is inexpensive and easy to learn. It's also slower and less versatile than some other methods. Oppositely, TIG welding is difficult to learn and requires an elaborate welding rig. TIG welding produces high-quality welds, however, and can weld materials that other methods can't. Torch welding represents another popular welding method. This process typically uses an oxyacetylene torch to melt the working material and welding rod. The welder controls the torch and rod simultaneously, giving him or her a lot of control over the weld. While torch welding has become less common industrially, it's still frequently used for maintenance and repair work, as well as in sculptures (more on that later).