EDM-Compatible Oil Captures Fine Graphite Particles

EDM Network and Chmer EDM offer an exclusive series of dust-free graphite mills to eliminate graphite dust while milling graphite electrodes. These mills are available with ball-screw drives and three-axis linear motor drives with precision glass scales for optimum precision and speeds. Fourth and fifth axes are available with Siemens 840D CNC controls and drives.

EDM-compatible oil in the oil shroud surrounds the 30,000-rpm spindle, capturing all of the fine graphite particles in the oil curtain. The particles are then filtered through two 30-micron filters before the system returns the particles to the oil reservoir to be reused. The use of the oil while high-speed milling also can prolong cutter life, reduce graphite chipping and improve electrode surface quality. The graphite electrode does not experience any detrimental effect after being soaked in the oil. Larger models can high speed mill hardened metals up to Rc63.