What is one significant disadvantage of electrochemical machining?

Electrochemical machining (ECM) operates by removing metal through an electrochemical process, which is efficient and can produce complex shapes with high precision. However, one of the significant drawbacks of this method is its high operational cost for electrical power. The process relies heavily on electricity to facilitate the electrochemical reactions, and maintaining the necessary voltage and current levels can result in substantial energy consumption.

This operational cost can make electrochemical machining less appealing compared to other machining techniques, especially when considering the overall budget for manufacturing or machining processes. Additionally, although ECM does not produce mechanical stresses and creates no physical waste in the traditional sense, these advantages do not offset the ongoing energy expenditure that must be carefully budgeted.

In contrast, other options such as producing no waste and being environmentally friendly highlight the benefits of ECM, while mentioning that it requires no maintenance fails to capture the need for periodic checks and maintenance of the equipment to ensure optimal performance.