EDM Machining

EDM Machining plays a critical role in modern manufacturing—from fuel system components to turbine blades and heat exchangers. At Roberson Machine Company, we deliver precision EDM services for industries that demand precise cutting, complex geometries, and burr-free finishes. Whether you need a prototype or a full production run, our capabilities are built to meet the challenge.

Give our team a call at 573-646-3996 or contact us online to learn more about EDM Machining.

Table of Contents

• What Is EDM Machining?
• Key Advantages of EDM Machining
• Industries That Use EDM Machining
• EDM Machining: Materials We Work With
• Why Roberson Machine Company for EDM Machining?

Read more about our services and machining capabilities on our blog.

What Is EDM Machining?

EDM machining is a non-contact process that uses controlled electrical sparks to cut conductive materials. Thousands of rapid discharges occur between an electrode and the workpiece—submerged in dielectric fluid—to remove material without any physical cutting tools or direct contact.

Think of it like carving metal with lightning. EDM is ideal for hard or exotic metals, tight internal features, and complex shapes that conventional machining can’t easily reach. It also produces clean, burr-free finishes that often require no secondary processing.

At Roberson Machine Company, we use EDM to create highly precise parts for aerospace, defense, energy, and medical applications—especially when accuracy, complexity, and repeatability are critical.

Key Advantages of EDM Machining

EDM offers several advantages that make it ideal for complex, high-precision work.

• No Mechanical Stress: EDM removes material without force. This makes it ideal for fragile geometries, thin walls, or delicate internal components.
• Range of Materials: Hardened steel, titanium, carbide—EDM cuts materials traditional tools can’t touch.
• Zero Tooling Costs: No custom dies or form tools required—ideal for short runs, revisions, or highly custom parts.
• Finish-Ready: EDM produces clean, burr-free edges that often eliminate the need for secondary finishing.

Together, these advantages help reduce secondary operations and material waste while improving speed and efficiency.

Industries That Use EDM Machining

EDM machining is used across industries where traditional tooling can’t cut it—literally. From aerospace assemblies to medical-grade components, this process is essential for producing intricate, high-precision parts in tough materials.

Industries that use EDM machining include:

• Aerospace: Precision parts for turbine blades, engine housings, and structural components that demand extreme precision.
• Military & Defense: EDM machining for hardened alloys, mission-critical assemblies, and components built for high-heat and high-impact environments.
• Automotive: Custom tooling and complex geometries for powertrain systems, mold inserts, and electrical components.
• Medical: Burr-free micro components machined in titanium and other biocompatible materials for surgical tools, implants, and diagnostic equipment.
• Packaging: Forming dies and precision wear parts with clean finishes and minimal post-processing for fast-moving production lines.
• Food & Beverage: Sanitary-grade EDM components in corrosion-resistant stainless and specialty alloys for washdown environments.
• Oil & Energy: Deep-hole EDM drilling and precision shaping for components used in harsh or corrosive environments.
• Automation & Robotics: High-precision EDM parts for fixtures, housings, and movement-critical systems in automated workflows.
• Firearm Manufacturing: Internal components and slide mechanisms that require precision machining and repeatable accuracy.
• Consumer & Commercial Products: EDM support for housings, branding dies, and custom fixtures in low- and mid-volume production runs.
• OEM & Custom Applications: From R&D prototypes to long-run production in exotic or hard-to-machine materials—if it’s conductive, we can cut it.

Whatever your industry or part requirements, our EDM capabilities are built for accuracy, repeatability, and long-term performance—backed by decades of experience. Learn more about our team and how we’ve been serving companies throughout the United States for more than two decades.

EDM Machining: Materials We Work With

EDM machining works only on electrically conductive materials, making it ideal for metals and alloys that are difficult to cut with traditional tools. Whether you’re working with tool steel, titanium, or copper, we deliver clean results without added stress or thermal distortion.

• Aluminum (6061, 7075, 7050): Lightweight and corrosion-resistant; aluminum alloys are commonly machined for housings, brackets, and high-performance parts. Learn more about aluminum CNC machining and its capabilities.
• Stainless Steel (303, 304, 316, 321, 420, 416, 440): Known for mechanical strength and corrosion resistance; stainless steels are used in medical, aerospace, and food-grade components.
• Brass and Copper: Highly machinable and conductive; brass and copper alloys are ideal for electrical contacts, connectors, and fluid-handling parts.
• Titanium: Lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant—EDM machining is often used to machine titanium for aerospace fasteners, surgical tools, and high-performance components.
• Tool Steels and Carbides: EDM machining is one of the few effective methods for cutting hardened steels (like D2, A2, H13) and tungsten carbide used in dies, molds, and wear parts.

If you’re not sure whether your material qualifies, reach out to our team and we’ll take a look at your specs.

Why Roberson Machine Company for EDM Machining?

With more than 20 years of experience and countless reviews, our team at Roberson Machine is here to support your next EDM machining project.

Whether you’re in the medical sector, aerospace, or automotive, our experience, equipment, and capabilities are built to meet—and exceed—your EDM machining requirements.

We offer more than just EDM manufacturing. As a full-service partner in precision machining, we specialize in:

• CNC Machining: High-accuracy milling and turning, delivering parts with exact specifications and smooth finishes.
• Multi-Axis Capabilities: From standard 3-axis work to complex 5-axis CNC machining, we handle intricate geometries and detailed features with ease.
• Wire EDM: Ideal for ultra-precise cuts and internal contours, especially for fuel system parts, hardened tools, or fine-featured assemblies.
• Prototyping: We move fast—get quick-turn, one-off components that help validate your designs before full production.
• Production Machining: Scalable options for short, medium, and high-volume jobs with repeatable accuracy and short lead times.

With value-added services that include assembly, welding, bead blasting, and final inspection, our team is here for one-off test equipment, ongoing contract manufacturing, or thousands of custom (and precise) parts.

Don’t wait to contact us online for more information about EDM Machining or give us a call at 573-646-3996. Roberson Machine Company can help you plan, produce, and launch your next project.