There are a variety of options available when choosing electrode material for sinker electrical discharge machining (EDM), but how can you decide which material will provide the best performance at the best price? In this piece, we’ll be discussing Entegris POCO Materials EDM-1®, one of our most economical Ultrafine graphite grades.
Although this is a budget-friendly option, that’s seldom a good reason for choosing an electrode material. Instead, let’s look at the characteristics of this material and learn why it may be a good fit for some specific applications.
What is EDM-1?
EDM-1 is a grade offered in the Ultrafine class that is a top choice for many electrode designs and mold and die applications. This five-micron grade provides a combination of speed, low electrode wear, and a good surface finish. It offers high performance at a lower cost which reduces overall job cost.
EDM-1 graphite is an efficient material for electrical discharge machining due to its uniform structure, strength, and machinability. Its unique properties enable precise and efficient material removal, resulting in high-quality finished products. Whether it be for mold making or tool and die applications, EDM-1 is very effective in achieving accurate and intricate shapes in the EDM process.
Why Choose EDM-1?
One reason you might choose EDM-1 is due to its uniform material structure, which lends itself to several benefits. If you need speed in the burn, the material creates less debris which allows for better flushing conditions and results in fewer secondary discharges. Its lower Shore hardness means that it is easier to machine and produce complex shapes. This grade is suitable for both rough and finishing electrodes, allowing you to achieve the desired results without needing different materials for each process. This approach minimizes potential errors and reduces overall cost.
What to Look For When Selecting Electrode Materials
EDM-1 is suitable for a wide range of applications, but it’s not a universal fit. When assessing electrode materials for EDM, you’ll need to understand five different factors. Here’s how these factors relate to EDM-1:
These metals take advantage of EDM-1 graphite’s ability to produce fine details and fine surface finish while maintaining electrode integrity and wear resistance. However, you may run into difficulties if you change the work metal type. For example, if you’re working on an exotic material such as tungsten carbide or a copper alloy, you’ll find that EDM-1 is not the best-performing choice. That’s because it experiences higher electrode wear compared to a copper-impregnated graphite such as EDM-C3®, which has a lower electrical resistivity.
Work with Entegris POCO Materials to Find the Best Electrode Materials for Your Application
Graphite is a top performer in multiple sinker EDM applications because of its ease of machinability, performance, and lower cost. Entegris POCO Materials offers excellent graphite material for EDM sinker applications and has been a standard in the industry for over 50 years.
Using graphite from Entegris POCO Materials means that you’ve joined a partnership that’s dedicated to helping you succeed. In addition to free virtual and in-person training, we also offer application support that can help you dial in program settings for optimized performance. Contact an applications specialist and learn how you can excel with graphite from Entegris POCO Materials.