Electrochemical Machining: the route, the tolerances it holds, materials and design tips, with an indicative cost. One of 56 processes in the free finder.
Non-traditionalFamily
+/-0.02mmTypical tol.
4Route steps
9Parts in finder
Electrochemical machining dissolves metal electrochemically through a shaped tool with no contact or heat, leaving no burr or stress.
At a glance
When to use it, and when not
Best for
Hard and tough alloys, complex cavities and burr-free, stress-free surfaces.
Watch for
Conductive materials only, tooling-specific, and electrolyte handling.
Step by step
The typical route
Raw material to finished part. Steps vary with material, volume and tolerance; this is the free route from the finder.
Cathode
Make the shaped cathode tool.
Tooling CNC Tolerance - Lead -
ECM
Dissolve metal to shape, no tool wear or heat.
Tooling ECM Tolerance - Lead -
Clean
Clean and passivate.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Inspect
Check form and finish.
Tooling - Tolerance - Lead -
Precision
Tolerances it can hold
TYPICAL TOLERANCE IT CAN HOLD
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials it suits
Grade
Why it suits this
Superalloys / hardened steel
Hard, heat-sensitive
Titanium
Tough to machine normally
Design
Design tips
A few general pointers for Electrochemical Machining. The full, part-specific DFM list is in the dossier.
Sharp internal corners.Allow radii.
One-off part.Use EDM/milling instead.
Cost
What it costs
Electrochemical machining of hard metals with no tool wear or heat; tooling-driven, suits volume on tough alloys.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for your part at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$120 to 335per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on this process and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
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Electrochemical machining dissolves metal electrochemically through a shaped tool with no contact or heat, leaving no burr or stress. The typical route is: Cathode; ECM; Clean; Inspect. Hard and tough alloys, complex cavities and burr-free, stress-free surfaces.
What does Electrochemical Machining cost per part?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $120 to 335 per part at low volume and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. Model estimates, not quotes.
What tolerance can Electrochemical Machining hold?
Typically about +/-0.02 mm, tighter with extra finishing operations at higher cost.
What materials suit Electrochemical Machining?
Common choices are Superalloys / hardened steel (Hard, heat-sensitive); Titanium (Tough to machine normally).
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.
