EDM - How hard is it to learn?

[plain ol Bill]

I am considering purchasing a starter wire EDM to make parts for knives with. However -- I have never been around an EDM. I do have a cnc plasma table that I built and use with Sheetcam and Mach3 so I have a little experience with cnc.
How hard is it to learn to use a wire EDM folks?????

What are power requirements for these machines? I do not have 3 phase power. If 3 phase is required can a rotary converter work with them?

Any help, information, etc sure appreciated folks.

[packrat]

Wire EDM is one of the most expensive, material wise, jobs in a shop. Wire, filters, resin, and cooling of the water is all expensive overhead.

To answer about the 3 phase, a rotary converter will handle most of them. The controls are usually single phase and would be supplied from a different circuit, if using a phase converter.

Most of the different machine makers have their own proprietary software but similar to most others.

[TheBigJW]

It is going to be on the more expensive end but try and find a submerged cutting machine. Meaning the tank fills with water and the cut takes place under the water.

If not we used to run the last of the old Japax machines way to many years ago and they would work in a pinch.

We used to use Bobcad 16 way back then to make programs form cad drawings.

If can tell you there is no more a frustrating machine to learn. The wire keeps breaking....and will want to throw things. Trick is to keep track of what works and write it down. As far as power settings. Best is of you could get a used machine someone else could fill you in on what settings cut what you want to cut right away.

John