CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper

CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper from VT machining delivers precision Beryllium Copper parts produced to your exact drawing. Wire EDM cuts conductive metal with a charged wire, achieving fine detail and tight tolerance with no cutting force, and we tune every parameter to the behaviour of Beryllium Copper, which is high strength with good conductivity and fatigue life.

CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper at VT machining
CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper — produced in-house at VT machining

CNC Wire EDM Capability for Beryllium Copper

  • Kerf from 0.1 mm
  • Tolerance to ±0.002 mm
  • Hardened & exotic alloys
  • Sharp internal corners

Beryllium Copper Material Data

Beryllium Copper — typical properties, quoted for C17200 (TH04/AT)
Density8.25 g/cm³
Tensile strength1140–1380 MPa
Yield strength (0.2%)1000–1200 MPa
Hardness36–42 HRC
Melting point866–980 °C
Thermal conductivity105–130 W/m·K
Thermal expansion17.8 ×10⁻⁶/K
Electrical conductivity22%
Machinability (C36000 = 100%)20–35%
Grades we runC17200, C17300, C17510 (high conductivity), C17410

Published typical values for C17200 (TH04/AT). Other grades in the family differ — the certificate supplied with your order carries the actual heat-lot figures.

Machining Beryllium Copper — what actually causes trouble

Machined in the solution-annealed state and age-hardened afterwards, which shrinks the part by roughly 0.1–0.2%. That shrink is compensated in the program.

How CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper Works

Material is removed from the Beryllium Copper 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 Wire EDM Beryllium Copper

CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper — 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 Wire EDM Beryllium Copper

Small design adjustments often cut cost and lead time. EDM suits sharp internal corners, thin ribs and hardened Beryllium Copper 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 Wire EDM Quality & Inspection

Quality is built in, not inspected on. We monitor key features during the run and confirm them at final inspection, with CMM verification available for tight tolerances. We provide the inspection and traceability records your quality system requires.

Secondary Operations & Finishing

Most Beryllium Copper parts need some finishing, which we manage in-house or through vetted partners. Options include deburring and edge-breaking, heat treatment, surface grinding, polishing, and plating or anodising for corrosion resistance and appearance. Give us the finished-part requirement and we will sequence every operation correctly.

Working with Beryllium Copper

Beryllium Copper is high strength with good conductivity and fatigue life. We translate those properties into a process plan: the right tooling, speeds, feeds and fixturing for the alloy.

Where the grade, temper or heat-treat condition matters to performance, we confirm it with you and can supply material certificates. Material is procured to recognised standards for consistent, repeatable results.

CNC Wire EDM Tolerances & Surface Finish

EDM holds tolerances to roughly ±0.002–0.005 mm with no cutting force on the Beryllium Copper 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 Wire EDM Beryllium Copper

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

How to Order CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper

Starting your project takes one email. Send your CAD or 2D drawing, the Beryllium Copper grade and condition, the quantity and any finish or inspection requirements. We respond quickly with price, lead time and any DFM notes, in clear English.

Parts We Have Run in Beryllium Copper

Three representative CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper jobs, with the callouts that actually drove the process plan. Yours will differ — these are here so you can judge whether your part is in our range before you spend time on an RFQ.

Carbide punch

Material
Beryllium Copper
Size
Ø6 × 45 mm
Key callouts
OD ±0.003 mm, sharp form retained
Batch
250 pcs

Carbide is EDM or grind only; there is no milling route.

Micro slot in nozzle

Material
Beryllium Copper
Size
0.15 mm wide × 6 mm deep
Key callouts
Width ±0.003 mm
Batch
400 pcs

Cut with 0.1 mm wire; the start hole is EDM-drilled at Ø0.3 mm.

Turbine blade fir-tree root

Material
Beryllium Copper
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.

Finishing Options for Beryllium Copper

Finishing options available with this material
FinishThickness / effectWhy it gets specified
Deburr / edge break0.05–0.3 mmAll parts unless the drawing says otherwise
Bead blastRa 1.6–3.2 µmUniform matt finish, hides tool marks
Laser markingPart number, lot code, data matrix
Free — no sign-up

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 Wire EDM Beryllium Copper

  • 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 Beryllium Copper 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 Wire EDM

Other Processes for Beryllium Copper

Send the drawing, the Beryllium Copper 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 is the typical lead time and minimum order for CNC Wire EDM Beryllium Copper?

CNC Wire EDM prototypes for Beryllium Copper can be produced quickly and scaled to series production. Send your drawing and quantity and we will advise lead time and any minimum order.

What surface finish is achievable on Beryllium Copper with CNC Wire EDM?

Surface finish on Beryllium Copper is controlled to your specification; we confirm the achievable Ra against your callout.

Can you EDM-machine hardened Beryllium Copper?

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

How clean are the edges produced by CNC Wire EDM on Beryllium Copper?

Machined Beryllium Copper edges are clean and to specification; edge-break or deburring is added when your drawing calls for it.