MANUFACTURING OF ELECTRODES

 

MANUFACTURING OF ELECTRODES

This is a most precision work and it plays an important role in tool manufacturing. Actual planning depends upon splitting of the profiles. Material and manufacturing of electrode depends upon.

1)                Complexity of the profile to be produced.

2)                Depth of sparking.

3)                Finish needed.

4)                Machining process involved.

 

Mainly graphite and copper are used. Copper should be used for thin and deeper sparking. Since there are thin ribs of 1.01 and 2mm graphite cannot be used. So copper is must preferred. They are machined in CNC and wire cut machines. The spark gap being 0.2 mm/side for roughing and 0.1mm/side for finishing. The round and rectangular electrodes are machined in lathe and milling respectively. The handle parts in the cavity insert are sparked with graphite electrode made in CNC.

 

The electrodes for runners, gates etc are sparked with graphite electrode.

 

The electrodes are given 0.15 drafts while machining. Inspite of this, an added advantage is that the taper formed by this while sparking, since it helps in easy release of component from core and cavity during ejection.