Re: stepper edm

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Thomas J Powderly
<tomp-tag@...> wrote:

>
> IMO the advantage of orbiting is simplification of electrode >
>manufacture.IMO orbiting is NOT faster/better than plunging.

Even despite improved flushing?

> But having 2 differently undersized electrodes at exactly the same >
>center is even more difficult. But, the 2 differently sized tools
>will cut faster than orbiting because the facial interface is larger
> ( the big tool cuts faster, hands down )

The electrode in orbiting only needs to be slightly smaller than it
would be for a normal plunge. The improved flushing should also help.
Then there is the fact that with a straight plunge you will probably
need several finishing electrodes for a blind cavity as the leading
edge of the electrode has to cut the entire z-depth of the cavity so
will be eroded more quickly leaving a taper at the bottom.

> So, orbiting is an attempt to reduce error, not to increase speed.
> Believe what you see, not what you read.
> Dont even believe me, try it and see for yourself.

What I have read makes sense to me, the roughing cut might not be
faster than a very well flushed straight sink but the total job time
for a given accuracy should be much less given the reduced number of
electrodes required, the fact that it allows some jobs to be done with
a single electrode that may have required 5 otherwise (a practical
real example given in the book) suggests to me it is pretty useful.

More importantly for the hobbiest (which I am) it may well allow me to
achieve better flushing than I might otherwise.

Graham