Open Source Die-Sink EDM Machine
(Redirected from Die Sink EDM Machine)
Contents
Basics
- Part of the Open Source Digital Fabrication Construction Set
- An electric discharge machining device (EDM)
- Uses a die, and high voltage electricity to precicely erode away material using the resulting plasma
Used For
- Mold Making
- Die Making
- Machining Difficult Metals Like Tungsten
- Hole Drilling (Especially of very small holes, or on difficult materials and/or geometries (such as drilling through a sphere) )
- All of this with very high tolerances
Industry Standards
MC Machinery
Sodick
Makio
Existing Open Source Designs
"Scorch Works"
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a1JEWbnvMo A Video by the YouTube Channel "Scorch Works" Titled "EDM (electric discharge Machining) Machine Walkthrough"
- The Hackaday Article on their Design
- Their design utilizes largely salvaged components, it uses a Clothes Dryer Heating Element as the stabilizing resistor, Microwave Oven Transformers etc
- They do mention a Hand Traced PCB although much of it's functions can be largely replaced by an Arduino or Universal Controller etc
- It is a die sink model, but does have the option to flow water down the linear actuator to the toolpiece
Dedicated DIY EBM Website
"Alchemist Dagger"
- An Instructable Showcasing a Design by "Alchemist Dagger" (It utilizes a rather poor motion system, but the electronics showcase the potential for an ultra-simple EDM Power Supply
"My engines"
Minimum Viable Product
Basic Design
Housing
- Holds all the below together
Controller
- Controls all components
- Raspberry Pi + Arduino + Any necessary shields?
- Connects to IO Panel and any external controls (PC, Server, WWW, etc)
IO Panel
- Touchscreen
- Optional Mouse + Keyboard
Fluid Pump
- Recirculates the dielectric fluid
- Does this to promote circulation
- Also provides pressure to debris clearing jets
Fluid Filter
- Cleans Debris (Such as Metal Dust) Out of the Dielectric Fluid
- Hydrocyclone + Standard Oil/Water Filter Cartridge
- Should also include sensors before and after filtration to determine fluid + filter effectiveness
Work Surface
- The Workpiece is attached to this
Fluid Bath
- Allows the Work Surface and Work Piece to be submerged in dielectric fluid
- Could be permanent or a slide up design
CNC Gantry
- Holds and Moves the Toolpiece
- Standard D3D Axis?
Toolpiece
- A Hollow Cylinder (Similar to a drill chuck) that allows various sinkers to be attached
- Works with the power supply
- Quickchange optionally
Fluid Reservoir
- Holds Spare Fluid
- Also holds the contents of the fluid bath when not in use
Fluid Filter
- Filters out the debris from machining (Such as various metal dusts and chemical powders created
- Then Keeps the fluid at the sort of "Goldylocks" like position between deionized and tap water (Most likely using a PEM and/or a dillute and dump (Add in DIW dump out some of the "spent" fluid)
- Will also need sensors to monitor that it is working effectively
