Page 15 - EDM Today Winter 2025

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This real life logo is made of stainless steel and the
boss who smashed eight of his fi ngers in a failed attempt
fi nished result is seen atop every magazine cover as part
to prove me unskilled and inept as a mold maker.
of our logo (the American fl ag was added by Roger after
“Tales of a Road Warrior” is another column describing
9/11). It was also a physical, 3-D, table-top attraction at
true events, experiences and encounters while on
every trade show or EDM conference we sponsored or
the road conducting EDM business whether I was
attended and said everything about us or who we were.
installing, training, applications, selling, managing or
This piece is now understandably a family heirloom.
public speaking.
From these many positions and their related travels, I
was able to describe many personal experiences such
TECHNICAL WRITER
as EDM’ing test coupons in the depths of the eerily blue
Early on, I was listed as
cooling pools of a nuclear reactor, or testing Mach-10
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the “Technical Writer” on
rocket sleds at White Sands Missile Range, and one of
the masthead. The very
my most favorite projects, the making of the RS-25s
fi rst of many versions of
(the Space Shuttle Main Engines – SSMEs) using EDM
my EDM Today business
throughout (and absolutely impossible without EDM).
cards over the years is shown on the left. I was designat-
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about them as much as I
ed EDM Today’s “Technical Writer” because that’s what I
have enjoyed writing about them. Which brings me to...
was, that’s what I did and that’s what I wrote about.
For many years, I wrote about anything and everything
technical about EDM and WEDM – from the “EDM
THE PRESENT
Fundamentals” to the latest technology about everything
new and a few of my own, tried-and-true, “Tips-n-Tricks”
My presence here at EDM Today has been evolving due
columns.
to my recent signifi cant change in lifestyle as I have
been retired from professional employment for almost
This was not diffi cult in the ‘90s, as EDM was not a
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fi ve years. This means that I no longer can tap into the
new market, but was now considered an “emerging” or
almost daily network updates and news of competitive
“growing” segment in marketing terms. This is supported
EDM technologies. I no longer receive the latest info on
by the single largest growth period in EDM sales in the
new machines, wires, graphites, tooling, patents or even
late ‘90s. It also created a greater need for more “How-to”
hear of EDM gossip and rumors.
information and articles. Being the only exclusively-EDM
magazine, we enjoyed this target-rich environment as a
I was very fortunate to travel the world in the combined
source of providing EDM knowledge to a curious public
course of business and journalism to attend internation-
and I feel we did this well.
al trade shows and technical conferences where much
information was exchanged and new business initiated.
captains of industry, learning much from them in every
TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED
encounter. Through these regular factory tours, meetings
EDM Today was produced with the combined experience I was able to meet with many important infl uencers and
and interviews, I was able to stay abreast of all of the
of Jack and myself to provide timely advice and solu-
current technologies and EDM news and to report about
EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine
tions. My writings have included coverage of: copper
them and transfer this knowledge on our pages here.
vs graphite, preventive maintenance (Wire and Sink-
Unfortunately, I no longer experience this luxury and I’m
er), fl ushing (Wire and Sinker), turn & burn, wire types,
now quite limited in access to new EDM technologies.
EDM’ing carbide (Wire and Sinker), fi ne-wire machining,
With my lack of daily exposure to the latest informa-
dielectrics (Wire and Sinker), toolroom metallurgy, tall-
tion, I can no longer provide the “Top Notch” or current
part machining, automation and discharge dressing, etc.
reporting I used to. I have evolved into an experienced
Note: Many of these articles are available on our website
storyteller who can produce a shop tale about an EDM
under our “Archives” section. (While you’re online, let us
experience or cover an EDM “Top Shop.” Speaking of
know what you think in our “Feedback” section. Help us
help you in making our product better.)
With all this being said, I have written about every EDM
“GRIST FOR THE MILL”
subject (except toolroom metallurgy, a 4-part series) at which, EDM Today needs your help. We need...
least three and perhaps four times (each time rewritten
As for providing more “EDM Top Shop” articles, on behalf
EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine EDM Today Magazine
and updated, of course). In discussions regarding provid-
of our entire staff I request your help. In seeking a “Top
ing future content, I have cautioned my previous Editor
Shop” to cover, I fi nd that more and more shops are
of the number of my previously published articles on the
reluctant to participate or even reveal why they would
same subjects and this was most often met with, “But
choose not to be considered an “EDM Top Shop.” I fi nd
we have many new readers. Reach out to them.”
this quite curious.
“Ok...you’re the boss.”
Whether this reluctance is through new, defense-related,
ITAR restrictions or merely protecting their own compa-
ny secrets, very few shops are willing to contribute or
OTHER SUBJECTS COVERED
full editorial rights (which we would never violate), they
To contribute regularly without repeating my previous
decline. This includes shop owners and former custom-
technical articles, I began writing about some of my own
ers who I have known personally for many years; our
personal stories via “Tales From the Shop Floor” where I collaborate in such an article. Even with assurances of
long-term relationship alone should preclude any feelings
related previous true life experiences ranging from a
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of mistrust or possible secret-revealing, yet most remain
Chinese-made, human-powered “unscrewing mold sys-
quite reluctant to participate.
tem,” welded atop an injection mold, to an overbearing
(Continued on next page)
13
EDM Today, Winter 2025 Issue