When EDM Goes Bad...

This episode of Learn To Burn, @zerotolerancecnc tackles a common challenge in machining: when EDM goes bad...
In this episode, Steve faces the task of burning 2 small carbide discs. Unaware of the necessary TI & TO settings on their sinker EDM, they witness the burn going south, resulting in a wrecked part and electrode buildup. With the guidance of Jim Weirdo, they seek control/settings recommendations to rectify the situation. Explaining the changes needed for carbide and overburn settings, they started on the second block with renewed settings and adjustments. And with the new settings implemented, the carbide was burned correctly.
We want to hear from you! What's your experience with EDM burning carbide? Have you encountered any challenges? Share your insights and solutions in the comment section below!
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ABOUT "EVERYTHING EDM - LEARN TO BURN"
When it comes to EDM, the guys and gals over at Zero Tolerance are the experts. This show will cover all things electrical discharge machining, with brand-new episodes dropping every month.
Learn more about Zero Tolerance: www.zerotolerancecnc.com/
Instagram: / zerocnc
LinkedIn: / steve-michon-290091109
Learn more about Sunspot Tooling: www.sunspotedm.com/
Facebook: / sunspotedm
Instagram: / sunspot_tooling
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#sinkerEDM #EDM #cncmachining

[@skwerlz]

Every company I've worked for realized that mistakes happen, and sometimes they're expensive. The point is not to make the same mistake twice.

[@pb68slab18]

The 3 most important factors in ram/sinker EDM;
#1. Flush!
#2. Flush!
#3. Flush!

[@lilgdr]

In the ammo industry, and we burn a lot of carbide dies every week in our sinkers. We only use copper tungsten for carbide, and use mainly graphite for our steel parts. We also do use a mixture of graphite and copper tungsten on some steel parts that we make in larger quantities. We use graphite as pretty much roughers to remove the material and then copper tungsten to get a really good finish and not use as many trodes due to less wear on copper tungsten.
Not sure on tolerances and all with the carbide part you burned, I look at it and would use 5 copper tungsten electrodes if it was a die that we would make for our uses and average tolerances. That would be 2 roughers, 2 semi-finish and then 1 finish.
Flushing is key though as well, on almost all our parts we are able to get through part flushing from the bottom which makes a world of a difference.

[@blube577]

I usually use negative polarity to burn carbide, short on time but also short off time to keep the generator frequency high. it's not fast, but stable.

[@fugginrambo]

So this isnt about Raves and Techno? LoL

[@zerotolerance8262]

Lol no, but still cool!

[@kylebullington1818]

Thanks for sharing, video helped a lot, burning out a broken carbide drillbit and was having terrible luck as it's an older sinker with no carbide tec, I was able to take info from your video and get my stability from 20% to 80% and more than triple my cutting speed without causing additional electrode wear. I'm using a copper 3mm hole popper electrode and spindle in my Charmilles Form 2-lc. Thanks!