There are multiple different kinds of electrode materials available when you are looking to do some electrical discharge machining, and it's true that copper remains one of the most popular types of materials used for EDM today. But it's also true that EDM graphite is also growing in popularity. Graphite can offer you and your shop a number of benefits that you can't get from copper or other material choices. Here are just some of the reasons why you might want to incorporate more graphite into your work flow today:
The Cost Might Be Lower
Yes, it's true that copper is widely beloved by EDM users because of its low cost. It's also true that certain grades of graphite are going to be more expensive. But the thing is, graphite can actually come in a wide variety of different grades and if you don't need the top grade available for your work, it's quite possible that graphite could offer your shop some significant savings.
Reduced Machining Time
Let's not forget the old adage that time is money, too. If your EDM shop has a lot of work to get through, any mistakes that you make or defects in the material could end up setting your entire project back and end up hurting your bottom line. Copper can at times be a more easily bendable or soft material, and this could lead to the occasional mistake if the material moves too much while it is actively being worked upon. You may find that certain grades of graphite are more reliable in this regard and will move as you expect them to while being worked upon by your machinery and other tools. Get the job done quicker and get the finished product to your customer on time.
Greater Durability
We've already said that copper is a "softer" material than graphite but we should also note that "softer" can also mean more fragile. When you are doing EDM work that requires extremely fine detail, your copper material will be at greater risk of damage if it is hit with too much pressure. This could make the final product much less durable than it should otherwise be. Graphite can stand up to the pressures of EDM much better, and your final product will likely be long-lasting as a result.
If you are looking for a way to cut costs and machining time in your EDM work while also possibly increasing the quality of the final product, it might be time to take a look at EDM graphite today.
Share6 November 2019
I have always been one of those people who is concerned about things like safety, which is probably one of the reasons I started going through and carefully evaluating manufacturing processes. Although I don't work in the field, I realized that it would be fun to learn about how things are made, so I started focusing on different techniques. I was able to find a ton of really great information about manufacturing, and it has really helped me to understand the detailed processes involved with manufacturing. This blog is here to encourage people to learn as much as they can about manufacturing. Check it out!