Over the last few days, I built a new "waterproof" Wire ECM setup to reach the goals that I could not reach with my wire EDM setup.

I haven't finished the wiring, yet, but I'm already able to cut 5mm aluminum and 3mm steel with it by moving the axes by hand.

The advantages of ECM over EDM are:

- There is no electrode wear $

- No need for a DI filter $

- Electrolyte can be mixed by using just tap water, salt and citric acid $

- Less risk of a wire break because if everything works as it should there is no wear on the wire.

- It's quiter than EDM.

The speed of both machine setups is around the same.

A disadvantage of ECM (for now) is that it's less precise, so that a small electrode is cutting a large cutting path.

I hope I can improve this in the future with more precise control of the gap between electrode and workpiece and by optimizing the water jet inline with the wire.

Next, I will finish the wiring and try to cut some metal.