Graphite Electrodes And Housekeeping

Despite the various advantages of graphite over metallic electrode materials, it also has downsides that cause many toolmakers to be hesitant, if not outright resisting, in adopting the technology. A major downside to graphite electrodes is that they tend to make a mess.

Just holding a piece of graphite will get your hands very dirty. Machining operations that use graphite electrodes produce a remarkable amount of graphite dust. It can get anywhere. Although graphite dust is not particularly dangerous to humans, they can wreak havoc inside the shop. Electronics are especially vulnerable to graphite dust. Graphite is semi-conductive. It will conduct electricity and cause circuits to short out.

Housekeeping becomes more important and a bigger challenge when using graphite electrodes. It is for this reason that many Asian and European toolmakers continue to resist the adoption of the technology.

All things said it must be noted that there is available technology for controlling graphite dust. Hence, the problem of housekeeping is not impossible to fix. Knowing this, the opposition to adopt graphite is more based on tradition rather than simply wanting a clean room.

Nevertheless, keeping to tradition is not unreasonable or impractical. It helps keeps the operation simple and keeps costs down. Just like with any production facility, adopting a new technology requires operational changes, if not a complete overhaul. The technology for controlling graphite dust requires significant expenditures and changes to the operation and layout of the shop. Most shops cannot afford the inevitable disruption to their operations that happens when transitioning into a new technology or system.

Shop Equipment: Lifting Magnets

Lifting magnets make life inside the shop easier. It makes moving heavy materials easier and safer. Shop technicians don't have to expend so much energy. The energy saved can be directed towards more important tasks. They can focus their energy on technical work. This improves productivity and quality of work. Back and knee injuries from carrying heavy stuff are avoided.

Lifting magnets come in two types. The first one is the permanent magnets. These magnets are quite simple. Their simplicity makes them durable and reliable. A permanent magnet tool does not depend on electricity. This helps keep operating cost down and doesn't require additional electric wirings inside the shop to operate. This makes permanent magnets generally more affordable.

The second type is the electromagnets. The primary advantage of electromagnets is convenience. You can turn the magnet on or off with the flip of a switch and from afar. The electromagnet has more components. More components mean more chances of something going wrong. Also, its dependence on electricity makes it risky. In the event of a power cut, the lifting magnet would stop working. Although the dropping the load can be prevented by securing the load with secondary lifting harnesses, the sudden loss of lifting power can still put personnel in trouble. At the very least, it is definitely not confidence inspiring.

Magnetic Pick Up Tool

Magnet tools are standard in many shops The tools range from magnet boards used to hold workpieces in place during various machining processes to lifting magnets that move heavy metal materials easily and safely. There is also the magnetic pickup tool. You can tell by the name, this type of magnet tool is used for picking up small metal parts. It can be very handy when working on components with limited access and tight spaces. Nuts, bolts, washers, bushings, and even other tools can fall through very tight spaces that cannot be reached by hand. With this tool, you don't have to disassemble an entire case to recover the dropped items.

The amount of weight the tool can pick up varies depending on the product. Some magnetic pickup tools have very high weight capacity and can carry over 7 kilograms. You should not always opt for the high-capacity tools. The reason for this is obvious.

When you are working with metal components all around, the high-capacity magnet will be very hard to control as it will attach to any metal surfaces nearby and becomes very hard to pull off due to the magnetic strength. It can pull off other metal components from their positions. It is better to use the magnetic pickup tool with just the right capacity.

Magnetic Pick Up Tool

Magnet tools are standard in many shops The tools range from magnet boards used to hold workpieces in place during various machining processes to lifting magnets that move heavy metal materials easily and safely. There is also the magnetic pickup tool. You can tell by the name, this type of magnet tool is used for picking up small metal parts. It can be very handy when working on components with limited access and tight spaces. Nuts, bolts, washers, bushings, and even other tools can fall through very tight spaces that cannot be reached by hand. With this tool, you don't have to disassemble an entire case to recover the dropped items.

The amount of weight the tool can pick up varies depending on the product. Some magnetic pickup tools have very high weight capacity and can carry over 7 kilograms. You should not always opt for the high-capacity tools. The reason for this is obvious.

When you are working with metal components all around, the high-capacity magnet will be very hard to control as it will attach to any metal surfaces nearby and becomes very hard to pull off due to the magnetic strength. It can pull off other metal components from their positions. It is better to use the magnetic pickup tool with just the right capacity.