anyone know about usingram/wire EDM for

[brianklein]

...internal helical splines. Is it possible for Wire EDM and is there a proper graphite electrode to use for Ram EDM??? If you have pictures of how an internal helical spline can be made in a hole by Wire or Ram EDM that would also be helpful.



http://www.frenco.de/multimedia/Grup...al_page-67.jpg

http://www.rushgears.com/images/customHelicalAD.gif

I know that these pictures are of external helical splines/gearsbut i would like to know if an internal helical spline can be manufactured using Wire/Ram EDM???

[John@CRDM]

We ram EDM'd this.

I made the electrode on a Mikron CNC and sparked it on a Charmilles roboform. Was actually very easy. Hardest part was making the 3D geometry as it came in as a 2D drawing

[brianklein]

Thanks for your response and picture!!! That is very impressive. Do you have a picture of the electrode???

[brianklein]

Thanks for your response and picture!!! That is very impressive. Do you have a picture of the electrode???

[John@CRDM]

The electrode was machined on both sides on a 3r pallet and then transfered onto the fixture.

Just so you know, the cylindrical shape was all machined in, you could wire edm that form if it was critical. The electrode just sparked out the gear form.

[brianklein]

Thanks again for your response. Could this electrode be used in a circular closed hole as opposed to your half a hole???

And what material is that electrode made of and can the shape of the electrode be machined using CNC mills???

[John@CRDM]

The half hole you see is actually one of two halves that were sparked together as a complete hole so yes you can. The electrode is HDHC copper and as previously stated you can machine it on a cnc mill...you'd need a 3D CAM package though.