http://www.cfccarbon.com/graphite Ways for Machining Graphite Successfully

1. Ways for Machining Graphite Successfully
It can be a challenging task to machine graphite. This problem
becomes bigger if you are not ready to work with the messy and
unique properties of this element mineral. The following lines will
throw light on the concept of machining graphite correctly and
successfully and provide answers to some of the important
questions related to this process.
• Take Care of Contamination- First of all you should always ensure
that synthetic graphite is machined dry instead of using liquid
coolants. If you use coolants while working with this material it will
produce an ‘abrasive slurry’ at time of coolant combination with
the finer bits of the material’s dust and chips. It is also possible that
the coolant fluid will permeate within the material through its open
pores. Such a contamination can lead to problems when this
material is used in any application requiring the use of the inert
properties of the material.
• Remove Excess Moisture- Next, make sure that the material is dry
before you start the machining process. In case the stock of raw
material has been exposed to water or stored outside you have to
bake it to remove all excess moisture. The dust and water can
cause‘abrasive slurry’ that will reduce the life of your tool
dramatically. Such an issue can be clearly observed while cutting
any wet graphite material on band-saw.
• Maintain Tool Sharpness- Also, make sure that the machining is
done using very sharp tools so as to prevent the edge-chipping or
particle pull-out. As soon as the cutting tool loses its sharp edge the

2. tendency of the tool will be to fracture the material or to lead to a
blowout of some edge at the time of exiting any cut. This happens
because the tool is dull and is not cutting but pushing the material.
The above-mentioned concepts will help in machining the material
properly and ensure that the entire process takes place safely and
successfully. CFC CARBON CO., LTD is a carbon group company that
undertakes proper machining of graphite and is the worldwide
leader in graphite, carbon composite and pyrolytic graphite.