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.