This paper describes the development of a ceramics carbon composite-based electrode for high speed and high accuracy EDM. To manufacture the composite electrode, rare coke, silicon carbide and Boron carbide are mixed by a specially desighned ball mill and then molded by a CIP without using binder. Subsequently the molded mixture is sintered at a high temperature of 2000°C or over. The sintered ceramics particles are uniformly dispersed into a graphite matrix.
The new ceramics carbon composite electrode is superior to conventional graphite-based electrodes when used in electrical discharge machining in the following : (1) Higher processing speed, (2) a smooth surface can be machined, and (3) a precise shape can be processed.
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