Custom Carbon & Graphite Machining

30 Sep

Five Keys to Success When Machining Graphite

Your Graphite Mill / Graphite Machining GuideGraphite machining can be challenging, especially if you are not prepared to work with the combination of unique and messy properties of graphite. As a custom graphite machining facility as well as a supplier of graphite material blanks, we have answered may customer questions over the years about the difficulty of machining graphite correctly and the many unique design needs our customers have encountered. The following is a list of five key concepts to keep in mind when attempting to successfully machine graphite.No Liquids or Coolants!First, machining of synthetic graphite should be done dry...

23 Sep

EDM Graphite

The selection of the most appropriate Sinker EDM electrode material is a key decision in the process plan for any job. This blog will examine the properties of graphite and metallic electrode materials. There are four main properties that effect EDM:1. Mechanical Properties - The mechanical properties (tensile strength, grain size, hardness) will affect both the fabrication of the electrode as well as the operational performance of the electrode.2. Structural Integrity - On a microscopic level the EDM process creates very violent sparks. The ability of the electrode material to withstand that stress, will determine the material's performance regarding surface finish and wear.3. Melting Point - EDM is a thermal...

16 Sep

Component Tolerances and Cost

Over decades of manufacturing custom graphite and carbon components for customers to their specifications we have witnessed a reoccurring experience concerning the tolerance block on many of the blueprints we receive for production.Acceptable Tolerance LevelsWe have found that many of the part drawings we are asked to quote or produce have excessively tight part tolerances when they are completely unnecessary. This is often a result of a default tolerance block being used on a blueprint template or the person drafting adding dimensions with excess decimal place callouts.A component machined to specifications tighter and more stringent than intended would undoubtedly work for the intended application, but would it actually perform better than a component held to...

09 Sep

Synthetic graphite isostatic pressing process

Synthetic graphite is available in extruded, vibration molded and isostatically molded forms. Many of our customers have little or no experience with the common production methods used to manufacture engineered synthetic graphite. The strongest synthetic graphites are manufactured using the isostatic pressing technique. Attached is a video detailing the steps and benefits of the ''HIP'' or hot isostatic pressing process. Although, synthetic graphite is normally pressed in a cold rather than hot process the video demonstrated the basic theory behind the process and is educational for those desiring to understand the process basics.

02 Sep

Vacuum Furnace

We have created this post for you, the maintenance supervisor that just had one relatively inexpensive part break, causing your vacuum furnace to be down for an extended amount of time. All because the component was not in stock. We have created it for the owner or the engineer in charge of production who does not want to find himself in the afore mentioned situation. What is a vacuum furnace? A vacuum furnace is a type of furnace that can heat materials to very high temperatures. The function is to carry out processes such as heat treatment, sintering or brazing. The area where the heat is produced is called a hot zone. Since...