Comparative Study of HSM and EDM in Injection Mould Manufacturing

Abstract

As EDM is a rather slow process, mould makers are forced to look for alternative processes in order to stay competitive. With the emerging technology, high speed machining (HSM) is a much faster process compared to EDM. Recently, HSM is being considered as a replacement for EDM in the manufacturing of moulds. However, HSM may not be appropriate for machining all types of moulds. In this study, an algorithm has been proposed to select the most appropriate process whether HSM or EDM, or a combination of both for the manufacture of a particular mould. Several case studies have been conducted and the economics of different processes have been analysed to justify the suitability of the algorithm. From the case studies, it is concluded that, for the machining of a particular mould, HSM is preferred if found to be suitable. But the decision for the selection may depend on the setup of the organization and constraints.KeywordsHigh speed machining (HSM)EDMmould manufacturingeconomics