The search continues: graphite or copper – which to choose?

Related Vendors

HASCO Hasenclever GmbH + Co KG

BORIDE Engineered Abrasives

Meusburger Georg GmbH & Co. KG

Poco Graphite, Inc. an Entegris Company

More expensive but easier to be machined

For example, a simple electrode blank with a ground finish on top and bottom was quoted with the material cost of copper alone being $0.29 per cm³, while a premium grade of graphite was quoted at $0.41 per cm³ or 45% more costly, the company said.

However, when the cost of machining an electrode detail was included, the story changed. In this case, the graphite electrode was actually quoted at less than 20% of the cost of the copper electrode. So, obviously there is something about the machining of copper that significantly increases the electrode cost. Due to the soft “ductile” characteristics of copper, this material is often gummy and conventional machining practices must be altered to successfully machine it. Poco Graphite added that graphite is not gummy and can be conventionally machined very easily and quickly when compared to copper.

(ID:42987692)