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EDM Today Magazine
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EDM Today Magazine By Marc Sanders FEATURE ARTICLE
A SHRINKING WORLD:
THE IMPORTANCE OF

ELECTRODE MATERIAL
SELECTION IN SINKER EDM

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About the Author
Marc Sanders
is the EDM
Technical Sales
Manager at
Entegris POCO
Materials.
Marc joined
Entegris in
March of 2006
in a Manufac-
turing Support
role and became
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manufacturing
support Supervisor in 2012. In 2017, he
became an EDM Applications Specialist.
In April of 2022, he was promoted to the
role of EDM Technical Sales Manager.

Marc has experience in every industry
that uses graphite. His role includes
supporting Entegris POCO distributors
by helping them understand the product
and how to match it to specifi c
end-user applications.

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In the ever-evolving landscape of machining technology, electrical discharge machining (EDM), distinguishes itself
from traditional methods due to its ability to overcome challenges such as working with complex geometries and
hard materials. EDM is one of the few technologies utilized for high precision components used in aerospace, auto-
motive, nuclear, medical device applications, and more. With the increasing demand for smaller and more intricate
components in these industries, EDM tools are being designed to fabricate smaller parts, prompting manufacturers
to evaluate the capabilities of their current materials. It raises the question of whether the existing EDM process
meets the needs of a shrinking world.

Sinker EDM in Manufacturing
“Over the last 10 years, Sinker EDM has undergone
For the benefi t of engineers who are new to EDM,
many changes in both technology and applications.
EDM Today Magazine conventionally machined and the remaining work is
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microns. In addition, EDM can accurately EDM Today Magazine
some background will help. Sinker EDM involves
One of the biggest shifts is that the bigger details are
an electrode and a workpiece that are both sub-
merged in an insulating dielectric fl uid. As the
smaller, more diffi cult, tighter tolerance, better fi nish, and
electrode comes close to the workpiece, it emits
more detailed. This requires electrode material selection
an electrical discharge that erodes the material in
to satisfy these requirements. Belmont recommends
a precise manner.
electrode material from the POCO Ultrafi ne family for
these applications, where the balance of machinability,
Although EDM can be slower than conventional
methods such as CNC machining, it can achieve
astonishing tolerances – often within a few
Tony Tyll
President/COO, Belmont Equipment & Technologies
machine a wide range of materials, regardless wear, and surface fi nish are best in class.”
of their hardness. Even tungsten carbide can be
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effectively machined with EDM.
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