Hardenability is the ability of the steel to produce the appropriate hardness in relation to the amount of martensite when quenched for its austenitizing temperature into the appropriate quench medium. The resulting hardness will be according to its cross-sectional area and chemistry (composition). […]
Water Hardening Tool Steels: Low hardenability, water quench necessary to form martensite.Oil Hardening Tool Steels: High wear resistant steels. […]
In order for tool steels to be identified by a toolmaker, it is necessary for the toolmaker to understand the method of identification and classification of tool steels. The purpose of gaining this understanding is that there are so many different tool steel manufacturing companies that will produce a very high grade of tool steel [...]
Using aluminum tooling for injection molding is not an entirely new concept. Initially, prototype molds were most commonly made out of aluminum, although the automotive industry has used it for years and it has slowly been gaining popularity with companies outside the automotive realm. […]
Dust ProtectionSince graphite is such an abrasive material, protection of the CNC’s working parts from graphite dust is extremely important. Some machine tool manufacturers have developed turnkey solutions1 that address these application-specific needs. […]
The following are specific advancements which impact automation: […]
Now that we know generally how graphite is made, how do we choose the correct grade? In order to maintain cost effectiveness, an EDM shop needs to choose EDM graphite that provides dependable quality at a good price. […]
More accurate electrodes will reduce leadtimes by eliminating the need for secondary processes such as polishing. Shorter leadtimes allow moldmakers to turn jobs over more quickly, driving higher volumes and better profits. […]
EDMing thin ribs is a difficult application. High-speed machining of the elec-trodes has made it possible to fabricate these electrodes from grades that are not capable of maintaining the detail in the cavity. The ideal graphite grade for thin ribs should have a flexural strength above 10,000 psi. […]
High-speed machining centers have made it possible to machine intricate detail into almost any grade of graphite, a task that would have been impossible using manual or CNC machining equipment. The high-speed spindles, making multiple passes with smaller chip loads, allow thin ribs to be machined without putting pressure on the rib. Materials with low [...]