Makino claims to have machined worlds smallest hole

Makino, a global provider of advanced machining technology and application support, is claimining to have made the smallest machined hole.
Makino (www.makino.com) cut a 0.00044 inch finished hole diameter in Japan on a communications /fiber optic part with its EDGE2 Sinker EDM machine with fine-hole option using a 0.00024 inch diameter silver tungsten electrode.

Other specifications of the hole include a hole diameter held to +/- 0.00005 inches with positioning pitch location accuracy of +/- 0.0005 inches. Positioning pitch between holes was 0.004 inches. Work piece thickness at hole location was 0.0010 inches.

“Machining time per hole was 20 seconds, with a total of eight holes machined in two minutes, 40 seconds. One electrode was required, with 40 percent wear,” said Jeff Kiszonas, Makino EDM product manager.

Makino manufacturing and service centers are located in the United States, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Italy, France, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, China, Mexico, Brazil and India, and are supported by a worldwide distributor network.