710787pECM Systems Ltd: Advanced PECM machine tool & ComponentsClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKElectro Chemical Machining (ECM) has advantages over conventional manufacturing (milling/turning) i.e. less material waste, able to machine any conductive metal & higher quality surface finish. pECM systems Ltd (PSL) believe ECM technology could be advanced. Current cathode development is lengthy & high cost, machined to high surface finish from materials like copper/tungsten, requires much iteration till final production cathode geometry is achieved capable of producing finished components. There are few manufacturers of ECM equipment; machines are typically single axis (machine one side at a time) & custom built to repeatedly manufacture identical components. ECM process requires 2-3mm additional material on roughed components, enabling removal of defects after ECM to achieve final geometry, wasting expensive material. Pulsed ECM (PECM) offers increased efficiency, improved energy use, better surface finishing allows components to be nearer net shape pre process, thus less wasteful of expensive material. This is critical for industries such as aerospace, where expensive alloys are used. The problem facing PECM/ECM is that machine tools are bespoke & single axis. PSL believe that current art can be significantly advanced with the proposed project.