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I thought I would resurrect this thread....

I've been trying to get a copy of Fleming's Pulse book on eBay, but I never can seem to get one. So.... If anyone here is not using his anymore, and if that person would like to sell the book, I might be interested in getting it. Please feel free to PM me.

But, this post actually has a secondary purpose.... I am obviously thinking of building the EDM, or its older variant, and I was wondering if any builder could comment on how happy he is with the design. Has it worked well? Would he/you recommend something else? That type of thing.

I'm just a hobbyist like everyone else, so I'm not looking for a commercial grade unit. I did grow up around EDMs though, but haven't personally used them, so I am familiar with what they can do.
 
I thought I would resurrect this thread....

I've been trying to get a copy of Fleming's Pulse book on eBay, but I never can seem to get one. So.... If anyone here is not using his anymore, and if that person would like to sell the book, I might be interested in getting it. Please feel free to PM me.

But, this post actually has a secondary purpose.... I am obviously thinking of building the EDM, or its older variant, and I was wondering if any builder could comment on how happy he is with the design. Has it worked well? Would he/you recommend something else? That type of thing.

I'm just a hobbyist like everyone else, so I'm not looking for a commercial grade unit. I did grow up around EDMs though, but haven't personally used them, so I am familiar with what they can do.
Hi,
I have built one from his first book and it works well. I use paraffin as the dielectric.
Only issue I have found is the servo chip can sometimes fail but these are relatively cheap.
Finding EDM grade graphite can be tricky in the UK too.
 
Thanks for the responses! Yes, that is the RC version, and I've actually got that book. Although I may build that version eventually, I really wanted to try the pulse one. Fortunately, one of the members here had a book from a Christmas long long ago (sounds like Star Wars), and he decided he wasn't going to pursue the EDM. So, I'm in luck!
 
Also, the book "home made tools" has a sinker EDM listed. Possibly this is an RC version by Dan Mauch.
 
Wow... Dan Mauch... That is a name which is definitely familiar although I don't recall the context or "when"... I did look at the link
Unfortunately that file is something else. No images, random phrases, and links to all sorts of other sites.

Cheers,
Stan
Yeah, I was going to comment on that. Even though I've managed to secure the book, I did decide to look at the site. It appears very much like a scum-bag pfishing site, with a whole host of suspect links, especially bit.ly types. NEVER trust those things! I would be *very* cautious if you are willing to go to anything on the link provided in post #30. (Huh... jkimberln... you and I are not very far apart from one another. I am in the South Bay Area).

As for the Camtronics site.... It looks to be essentially dead. The dates referred to on the site are all from other decades, so I'm pretty sure Dan Mauch has abandoned the site; given the average age of many people in the machining hobby, there is a decent chance that he is not even around anymore too. :(

B
 
The best part of EDM is using on broken taps and bolts.

Dave
 
probably one of the main reasons why I want to do it... And because it is a kind of connection to what my father did. I'm sentimental, I admit it...

FWIW, an R/C type is probably fine for doing tap removal. If you are trying to burn a profile for injection molding in a die, I'm guessing pulsing would be better. But I doubt that design has enough power to do a tangible amount of work. I don't have a concrete basis for saying this, but it is my hunch.
 
I mentioned Dan Mauch just to see if anyone remembered him. Camtronics has been gone for ages but the URL was just posted as a reminder that It once existed and put out plans for a wire EDM. ISTR Dan serializing the EDM in Ciarcia's Circuit Celler about a generation ago. I don't know if the old copies of CCC can be found in some archive.
 
Oh! The name definitely rang a bell, that is for sure! Although, I cannot remember the context of the conversations I had with him.... Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar... LOL, you are definitely bringing back memories there. I haven't heard of CC in eons.
 
Just as an FYI, it appears that you can still purchase the pulse EDM book in digital format directly from the author's (Ben Flemming) website. This was noted earlier in the thread, but I think he still offered print versions at that point. It looks like he also still also offers "starter kits" that include bare printed circuit boards along with the book:

http://www.homebuiltedmmachines.com/purchasing-books-and-starter-kits/
 
Model Engine Builder #26 has a several page article on making an electromagnetically actuated pulse mode EDM. Very simple, think door buzzer on steroids with one end of the coil connected to the electrode, the other end to a 12 volt battery. Other battery terminal connects to the work. A bit safer than the old AC line and light bulb hack, not as complicated as the sexier EDM designs that might provide sinker capabilities. I saw this being used at Cabin Fever one year, the guy showing it was poking holes that looked pretty clean. Certainly could be used as a tap / stud burner.

Cheers,
Stan
 

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