As previously mentioned, there are some ECM systems
available on the market that can match the quality of some of
the micro manufacturing processes. However they are prohibitively
expensive with between €350,000 and €500,000 for a
granite-based machine and they are normally not production
capable. Therefore, it is important to promote the advantages
of ECM through ensuring that a machine can be developed
and achieve the accuracy that the market demands, that can
work in a production environment and can do so consistently.
The machine should be at a price point to compete with the
other technologies in that space and prove the quality of the
process through the manufacturing of micron accuracy with
high reproducibility.