Graphel’s West Coast Regional Sales Manager Jeff Kiszonas joins Ken for a discussion on technology in EDM such as controlling spark activity, EDM automation, and hard milling. He also discusses graphite selection and the state of EDM in 2020.
In this episode, Ken Dworznik is joined by the other Graphel Outside Sales Managers such as Chip Rowland, John DeLalley, and Jeff Kiszonas. They discuss various topics such as: supplying medical operations with EDM needs during Covid-19, their joy of meeting people and learning about new applications, finding places where additive manufacturing can’t go (and EDM can), Graphel’s ability get orders out quickly, and Graphel’s non-EDM operations such as tooling and graphite supply. And of course, questions from listeners!
Graphel’s Bill Heyser and Nathan Buchanan join Ken Dworznik to give a behind the scenes look at the engineering department at Graphel, including the services they can offer to help the customer achieve their EDM goals. Beyond helping design electrodes and plan the manufacture of electrodes, other services include wire and sinker edm machines on site to machine for customers, and the ability for engineers to simulate electrode burns with a customer’s workpiece. They also talk about graphite engineering projects beyond EDM, including working on a motor housing on one of the Mars rovers! Finally, they answer common questions.
Marc Sanders of Entegris | POCO Materials discusses the Nov. 2019 article “How to EDM Steel and Copper Alloy Simultaneously” (written by Marc and Rob Fothergill) with Graphel’s Ken Dworznik. The discussion includes polarity, on-time, peak current, material choice, and more, with a focus on getting the best results for your EDM application on both steel and copper alloy. Also, common questions answered!
Rob Fothergill of Entegris | POCO Materials joins Graphel’s Ken Dworznik to discuss his article “An Added Layer of EDM Knowledge” (Week 9 on the blog) and take listener questions on EDM material selection.
Graphel’s Dave Trinkley and Jaime Portillo join Ken Dworznik to discuss their backgrounds in the industry, adaptions to the challenges of Covid-19, Graphel’s different locations, and the solutions that Graphel offers to EDM customers- solutions such as graphite material consulting/distribution, electrode and tooling packages, and engineering services. Plus a shout-out to the team!
From Entegris| POCO Materials Article by Robert Fothergill
EDM TECHNOLOGY
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Sinker EDM technology has improved significantly over the years, changing many of the processes and decisions that an EDM operator will face when operating the machine. Even though operators may have access to the latest in machine tool technology, it is still important for them to receive training to understand machine parameters and the impact each one has on the finished product.
EROWA’s Tom Swihart joins Graphel’s Ken Dworznik to discuss when/why to use tooling in wire or sinker EDM, and EROWA’s new offerings.
Marc Sanders, EDM Application Specialist at Entegris | POCO Materials, joins Graphel’s Ken Dworznik to discuss the services Entegris POCO can provide to EDM users, the importance of graphite material choice, and answer common EDM application questions.
From Entegris| POCO Materials Article by Jerry Mercer
THE SEARCH CONTINUES: GRAPHITE OR COPPER, WHICH TO CHOOSE?
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When determining the best EDM electrode material to use, the debate between graphite and copper has been long standing and is yet to be resolved. Many argue that graphite is the preferred electrode material while others stand firm with their preference for copper. Depending on the geographical region, the answer is most always the same. In North America, the preferred electrode material has shifted from copper in the beginning to graphite today. For Europe and Asia, some may argue that copper is the preferred material; however the use of graphite in these regions is steadily increasing. Without question, as depicted in Chart 1, graphite is the predominant material in the United States with at least 95% of electrodes being produced from this material. Steady increases of the use of graphite in Europe over the past decade have resulted in an electrode material ratio of 75% graphite/ 25% copper. Asia follows closely behind with estimations of 45% graphite/55% copper with the use of graphite continually rising. With over 70% of the global market using graphite electrode materials over copper today, perhaps the better question is not which is the best EDM electrode material to use, but instead what is causing this global change in the industry? To answer this, we must first identify the differences of each material to one another.
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