MICRO DRILLING BY SPARK EROSION

At its 4 CN machining centres STEEC drills and taps holes of very small dimensions down to diameters of a few tenths of microns. STEEC carries out micro-drilling work on conventional machining centres. STEEC is able to machine parts in small and medium series or units parts that may have several tens of thousands of holes per parts. The company has acquired know-how and expertise recognized by multiple audits by major contractors in this technology. These audits have also led to special prestigious certifications. This technical solution may be applied in all industrial sectors, from aerospace to the medical sector, also including research or the automotive industry.

Spark erosion involves removing material from a conducting part and eroding it to give it the desired shapes and dimensions by means of electrical discharges. In the wire sparks erosion process an unwinding metal wire, under tension, is immersed in water or in another insulating liquid (dielectric) with the part to be worked. The current transmitted forms an electric arc which gives rise to precise, programmed degradation of a section of the part. The residues created by wearing of the part are removed by the water or dielectric liquid. STEEC carries out both spark erosion and fine wire micro spark erosion operations Wires spark erosion and machining Equipped with the latest wire spark erosion technologies, STEEC is able to carry high precision cutting with wires of standard sizes whose diameter may vary from 0.15 to 0.25 mm in all types of mechanical parts.

Wire spark erosion, laser micro-cutting, micro-milling and micro-drilling STEEC is also involved, both as a subcontractor to numerous SMEs and agencies in the metallurgy and mechanical engineering sectors which very often engage in subcontracting activities themselves. STEEC enables these players to respond to invitations to tender that involve meeting precision micro-machining requirements for which they are not equipped. The wide variety of precision micro-machining operations which STEEC offers is highly beneficial to these SMEs and agencies, which are able to offer a comprehensive service in micro spark erosion, laser micro-cutting, micro-drilling and milling.

STEEC, an eligible company approved for research tax credit, is partner to numerous prestigious research centres such as the CNRS (National Scientific Research Council) and the CEA. The company also collaborates very regularly with university research centres in France and abroad. STEEC assists the researchers in their development by providing them with the possibility of applying leading edge technologies in micro-machining, such as laser micro-cutting or micro-drilling by spark erosion.