Electrical Discharge Machining with old Doorbell Parts

[MugbyJunction]

In normal use the electrode, or wire of an EDM does not come in to contact with the workpiece. Besides flushing away debrit this is why they run in oil or water. The charge ionises the fluid and the spark occures in this ionised zone. If the electrode and workpiece contact each other a short is created - not good. Also you would normally use disimilar materials for workpiece and electrode in order to reduce electrode wear.

[TheCerberusInferno]

Excuse me i still have problem to understand your video , can you explain please why a solenoid ? ..

[bbcisrubbish]

I saw a demonstration of a spark eroding machine where a "T" shape was cut.

Most interesting.

[hal02modder]

I love how you used a micrometer to clamp it...

[M1ST3RHYDE]

What was the voltage you used in this set up/ Thanks

[jeriellsworth]

@M1ST3RHYDE 9-12v

[M1ST3RHYDE]

@jeriellsworth

Thanks:) I watched it over again and saw that I missed that part.

[TheKingPhisher]

It's basically a spark plug

[Samqdf]

I find this facinating, I am thinking a solenoid off a car starter motor, 2 x isolated linear bearings, hardened shaft with an electrode holder and a car battery for power. What is the best material for the electrode?

[TheSolarmike]

Could you please make a geiger counter video for us? Argon mica thin wire and so on

[aandysuth]

This is an old upload, but I love it! so does my 5 year old daughter.

We can't wait to make one of these ourselves.

-Andy

[TheSolarmike]

I have always been curious about edm. I did not know I could be done so simply.

Thank you for making all of these videos!

I spend hours and hours almost every day looking for scientifically interesting things on YouTube to watch and your videos are excellent.

I wish I could clone you

[MrGwaai]

would it cut non ferrous metal?

[jeriellsworth]

@MrGwaai It should.

[adavid7901]

@jeriellsworth the metal has to be electricaly conductive so its a no to plastics or anything of the like

[jeriellsworth]

@adavid7901 I didn't claim plastics. It should be obvious from my demo that the work piece is part of the circuit.

[intranick]

curious. how long does it take to go through a razor blade?

[jeriellsworth]

@intranick It's been a while since I did this. It took in the range of 5-10 minutes.

[chainsawz]

i missed the like button XD

[alex871uk]

Great video, thx! Any links to explain the 'points of cars' comment at the end? No idea what this is referring to :o)

Also think it would help to show a spring behind the electrode in the circuit diagram (tho its not an electronic component).

[jeriellsworth]

@alex871uk Hehe. Back in the good old days of mechanical ignition. The switch contacts would erode from one side to the other.

[blckfire539]

so what are the uses for a hole that small? and can you do that with a wider bit? and you can use this as a way to print things? really interesting!

[jeriellsworth]

@blckfire539 This was mostly for a demo, but you could plunge the electrode into very thick metal or you could make electrodes of a non-round shape and form holes in that shape. This technique can erode metals that would be difficult to drill like tool steels or stainless.

[darkbladeaqp]

how long take to make the hole?

[jeriellsworth]

@darkbladeaqp It took about 5 minutes.

[AmazGraz]

Yea, I too started to comment on the 'improper' use of the mic.

[jeriellsworth]

@AmazGraz My $4 micrometer with parts missing. :)

[AmazGraz]

In a true EDM machine there is no contact. The circuit senses the gap and controls the advance of the electrode using servos. But this is an awsome revelation. And I suppose one could use an inert gas to assist.

[AmazGraz]

Interesting! It should be done underwater laced with a dielectric. A traveling wire EDM typically uses brass wire and it machines hardened metals for the most part, like D2, A2, M1, carbide, other tool steels. The blank us usually drilled at critical points to accomodate threading of the wire through the 'starter' hole. Then it is hardened, and then it is sent to the EDM machine to cut out the holes. Typically used for dies, in stamping.

[ollieoniel]

could you use reverse electrolysis?

you could draw on the metal with some resistive

material to get the picture you want on it.

[jeriellsworth]

@ollieoniel That sounds like a nice idea. I think I'll give it a go.

[ollieoniel]

@jeriellsworth Thanks!!!

[jimandaubz]

@jeriellsworth Actually that is one way to describe how an edm works, the point of operating it dry or more commonly in oil is to prevent the metal that is removed (from the work) from attaching to the electrode there by extending tool life and avoiding complications (it would be very bad if the electrode grew say in the middle of a very deep hole, it would not be able to be removed)

[shodanxx]

oh cool I got an EDM on the back-burner, we have a couple at work, they are apparently great at cutting the heads of the special rivets we use to hold turbine blades on the disc

I asked the guy if I could have some "alone time" with the machine he said come back on the night shift , hehe , I will bring my dmm

[drOffset]

Hi Jeri, do you think this could be adapted to cut traces into copper for homemade PCBs? Maybe it can be attached to something like the RepRap or Makerbot.

[SmokeTatum]

using micrometer as clamp hurts me, because i dont have a micrometer and i could use one :D

[jeriellsworth]

@SmokeTatum Three or four dollars and you can get one of the cheap Chinese made ones like this. At that price they could be used as fishing weight.

BTW. I know how to use them too.

[SmokeTatum]

havent found any cheaper than 10€ +shipping costs from Hong Kong. If you have link to shop with the 3,4 dollars ones, that is shipping to central europe than please reply. Im machinist and im searching for cheap mesurment tools for my home workshop.

BTW i didnt say you dont know how to use them;P

[jeriellsworth]

@SmokeTatum I purchased these on sale at Harbor Freight.

[Ibringthetruth1]

similar to carbon arc cutting.

there are vids of this on youtube.

[kornweasel]

It's a laser razor! Great vid!!

[TrooferTrooper]

Brill, cheers.

[9k2ub]

Very Educational , simple, yet , very informative. Thank you from Kuwait.

Mohammad A. Almutairi

Electrical Engineer

US Graduate - University Of Bridgeport - CT

[justDIY]

very cool, thank you!

[rasz]

I want to know why arent you on Discovery Science? There is so much junk on there and so little science. You on the other hand can fill whole science book chapter in 5 minute clips that are interesting and fun to watch.

[Technoguy3]

@rasz I can only imagine what can be done on a big Discovery Channel budget!

[myozone]

Opps - SPACATRON

[myozone]

sparkatron

[777Marlene]

your machine is alot like a larger machine used in industrial applications ...i believe , called a plasma arc welder , or plasma arc cutter.....very interesting sweety

[AlexMadsen87]

this is actually more like carbon-arc gouging( a constant current power source with a carbon+copper electrode on negative polarity, with a jet of compressed air to remove the liquid metal.) Plasma welders and cutting involves compressing a gas and sending it through a constricting nozzle with a high voltage and high current arc, allowing the gas to be electrically conductive.

nice little machine, not bad work for 5watts

[flippinrawks]

thats good to know, thanks for the video

[SuperFinGuy]

Nice. Gotta love engineering.

[madhippo1]

Awesome. I need to set up my workshop and build some of this stuff.