Fwd: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: direct printing PCBs

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Sebastien Bailard - Dubsen

>.. Do you think you'd be able to design most of the parts for a
> standalone system to be RP-able, or at least EDM-able?

I don't think there would be any point trying to design a wire EDM for
RP or even EDM contruction without first having built one using normal
contruction methods. The other question is what do you expect it to
be able to do, what size components? What thickness? What accuracy?
What speed? Remember that the typical wire in EDM is 0.25mm and the
typical spark gap is much smaller than that, your motion needs to be
steady enough not to vibrate the wire and cause shorts. Do you really
expect a dielectric system to be RPable? Would you want to make pumps
and filters? The wire tension and speed needs to be regulated, the
spark gap monitored and the feedrate controlled and even reversed on
the fly. The power supply needs to be powerful and for speed be
pulsed (something few DIY EDMers have played with).

> Maybe we'd want to go with a edm machine that could, along with >
>parts from a reprap, reproduce.

Well it would make a change from it reproducing with itself ;)

Graham