CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel

CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel from VT machining delivers precision Spring Steel parts produced to your exact drawing. Fast-hole EDM drilling produces small, deep holes in hard metals, including starter holes for wire EDM, and we tune every parameter to the behaviour of Spring Steel, which is high yield strength and elastic recovery.

Process Data for CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel

Hole diameter rangeØ0.3-3.0 mm
Max depth-to-diameterup to ~100:1
Drilling speed, Ø1 mm~24 mm/min

Shown for Spring Steel (65Mn / SK5 / 1075), the most common Spring Steel grade we see for CNC EDM Drilling. Typical values for Spring Steel (65Mn / SK5 / 1075), Annealed or hardened & tempered strip; confirmed on the first part.

CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel — produced in-house at VT machining

CNC EDM Drilling Capability for Spring Steel

  • Ø0.2–3 mm holes
  • Deep aspect ratios
  • Hardened-metal drilling
  • Angled hole capability

Spring Steel material properties, finishing options and grade notes are on our CNC Wire EDM Spring Steel page.

How CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel Works

Material is removed from the Spring Steel workpiece by controlled electrical discharges across a dielectric gap, with no mechanical contact. Flushing, on/off pulse timing and electrode/wire feed are set to balance speed against surface finish.

We start from your supplied geometry and tolerance scheme. The setup is designed to minimise re-clamping, which protects positional accuracy across features. A first article is verified against the drawing before the balance of the batch is released.

Achievable Tolerances for CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel

CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel — achievable tolerances
FeatureStandardPrecision
Profile dimension±0.010 mm±0.002 mm
Internal corner radius0.15 mm0.05 mm
Taper control over 50 mm0.02 mm0.005 mm
Surface finish (skim passes)Ra 0.8 µmRa 0.2 µm
Recast layer10 µm2 µm (fine skim)
Start-hole diameter1.0 mm0.25 mm
Workpiece hardnessno limit (conductive)no limit (conductive)

Standard is what a normal quotation assumes. Precision is available on nominated features and is priced separately, because it needs extra setups, in-process gauging and CMM verification. Call out only the features that need it — blanket-tightening a drawing is the single most common reason a quote comes back expensive.

Design Tips for CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel

Small design adjustments often cut cost and lead time. EDM suits sharp internal corners, thin ribs and hardened Spring Steel that cannot be milled; allowing a small corner radius where possible speeds the cut. If you send your model early, we will return practical DFM feedback before you commit to production.

CNC EDM Drilling Tolerances & Surface Finish

EDM holds tolerances to roughly ±0.002–0.005 mm with no cutting force on the Spring Steel part, producing fine, controlled surface textures and sharp internal corners impossible to mill.

The tightest tolerances are reserved for the features your drawing flags as critical. Share your tolerance scheme and we will confirm what is realistic before quoting.

Applications of CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel

Spring Steel parts made this way are found throughout aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics and industrial equipment. Prototype, bridge and production volumes are all welcome.

Typical Spring Steel Parts for CNC EDM Drilling

Illustrative examples of CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel parts and the callouts that usually drive the process plan. They show the kind of work that fits this process; they are not specific customer orders.

Turbine blade fir-tree root

Material
Spring Steel
Size
40 × 25 mm section
Key callouts
Profile ±0.008 mm
Batch
120 pcs

Held on a dedicated fixture so every blade in the set indexes identically.

Extrusion die

Material
Spring Steel
Size
120 × 120 × 25 mm
Key callouts
Profile ±0.005 mm, internal corner R0.1 mm
Batch
35 pcs

Cut in four skim passes; the first pass is speed, the last three are finish and accuracy.

Spline broach section

Material
Spring Steel
Size
Ø28 × 40 mm
Key callouts
Involute profile ±0.005 mm, Ra 0.4 µm
Batch
60 pcs

Wire EDM after hardening to 62 HRC — the profile would not survive being cut soft and heat-treated.

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No drawing yet? Build one in the browser.

Set the metal, dimensions and features, watch the 3D model update as you type, then switch to the 2D sheet to add dimensions and tolerances. Download it or send it straight to us with your RFQ.

Open the 3D + 2D Builder

What We Need to Quote CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel

  • GeometrySTEP or IGES for the 3D model, plus a PDF drawing if you have tolerance callouts. A dimensioned sketch is enough to start.
  • MaterialThe exact Spring Steel grade and condition — temper, heat-treat state or hardness. If you are not sure, tell us the function and we will suggest one.
  • QuantityPrototype count and the expected annual volume. Both change how the part is made and therefore what it costs.
  • TolerancesWhich features are critical. Everything else runs to our standard tolerance, which is what keeps the price sensible.
  • FinishSurface treatment, cosmetic requirements, and any faces that must be masked.
  • DocumentsWhether you need a material certificate, dimensional report, FAIR or PPAP with the shipment.

Missing something from the list is not a problem — send what you have. We will come back with the specific questions rather than a generic form.

Other Metals for CNC EDM Drilling

Other Processes for Spring Steel

Send the drawing, the Spring Steel grade and the quantity. You get pricing, lead time and any DFM notes back — usually within one business day.

Request a Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What tolerances can you hold for CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel?

Achievable tolerances for Spring Steel EDM machining depend on the alloy, geometry and feature size. EDM holds tolerances to around ±0.002 mm with no cutting force on the part. Exact figures are confirmed against your drawing callouts.

Does CNC EDM Drilling Spring Steel require dedicated tooling?

Wire EDM needs no shaped tooling; sinker EDM uses a shaped electrode we produce in-house for your cavity.

Why is Spring Steel a good choice for CNC EDM Drilling?

Spring Steel is high yield strength and elastic recovery, which makes it well suited to CNC EDM Drilling. We tune the process to the alloy so the finished Spring Steel EDM machining part meets your dimensional and functional requirements.

Can you EDM-machine hardened Spring Steel?

Yes. EDM removes material by electrical discharge rather than cutting force, so hardened and difficult Spring Steel can be machined to fine detail and tight tolerance without distortion.