Betta Wire | My 4-Axis 3D Printed Wire EDM Machine

🔴 Pre-orders for the Betta Wire kit ⚡:
rackrobo.io/products/BWV1
👆
🔴 Powercore V2 order link ⚡:
rackrobo.io/products/PCV2
🎮 Discord:
/ discord
Fulfillment of Powercore V2 is expected to begin this month of May. Half of this batch has been sold. We will be maintaining rolling production. We expect to begin accepting international 🌎 sales soon, using third-part distributors.
Thank you to all of our Powercore V1 Kickstarter backers for helping to launch our company, and with it a new generation of wire EDM machines!
Personal rants & ramblings on ✖ :
/ chemist_john_

[@rock3tcatU233]

Wire EDM capabilities for the average hobbyist? What a time to be alive!

[@Ray88G]

Any plans on EDM CNC type machine which can create 3D shapes with electrode instead of wire

[@haydennorris2913]

Desktop precision metal machining on a budget was unthinkable until now

[@MorlockEngineering]

It is a white swan event for rapid prototyping. No one was expecting this. The machines will only get more accurate as time goes on.

[@cybyrd9615]

@@MorlockEngineering how does your system compare to laser cutting? Tolerance and speed wise. I know cost is much lower, but how is precision, also the environment I envision integrating this into a cost of $100k is less of a problem than slower speed although. For consumers its may actually work, but I think speed could be a problem just with EDM itself.

[@moron_with_a_voron]

there are several open sourc mills and printers , but lathes, edm and sls were RARE until now, this takes care of the edm, micronice takes care of the sls printer. it is so amazing, if you have a small shop, you now can buy ALL of these technologys (CNC, sls & fdm printer and now even wire edm for less than a pachine cost 15 years ago 😮

[@DaveEtchells]

So many clever ideas here! I like the simplicity of just dunking it in a 10-gallon aquarium and using core XY for the positioning, with all the motors topside. Also well-deserved pride for the use of pins to reduce threads fasteners. Just brilliant overall!

[@MorlockEngineering]

Thank you. I appreciate your kind words

[@jimidjoriginal9295]

This looks amazing, I would really like to get an idea about the cost of this thing. I am also an electrical engineer and if i wasn't so busy in this period I would really love to participate in this project. The power electronics and the principle of operation of this thing is absolutely mind blowing. Also, the idea of a "renewable" wire during the process in order to avoid the destruction of the electrode (wire) and the introduction of inaccuracies is really something that attracted my attention. Keep up the good work, I hope to see an update soon. *Edit: I read the the description, 2000$ are for sure a lot of money (depending on my standards), but I am sure that the project is going to drop eventually to a far more affordable price, since its an open source project.

[@simple_fred]

hmmm I wonder how long would the arc take to convert the dissolved N2 gas into nitric acid and in turn the nitric acid would attack the PLA. I'm guessing it would take a long time, but not entirely negligible. It would be neat to see a failure mode case study of abuse ie someone neglecting to replace the water over a long period of time with an analysis of the contamination of the water too. But in short, neat project.

[@alanbockelman]

I ran a Mitsubishi 5ax WEDM for work. I'd love one to have at home, I feel like I'd have more use for this than a underpowered desktop mill.

[@IvanGreguricOrtolan]

Really nice machine!

[@alexanderthygreat]

audio is only on left channel

[@ChuckThree]

I don’t think thats right

[@chriswesley594]

@@ChuckThree Audio is only on the left channel for me, also.

[@user-wo7rl4nm7w]

Didn't even notice until you said that

[@MAcDaTHo]

can confirm. I just found out my speakers are installed the wrong way. (Only the right speaker is working.) I guess that will significantly improve gameplay. (Now I know why I always get killed from behind)

[@johnfelt1089]

It is indeed. I just switched to mono audio and sounds fine. Just a quick fix for those watching.

[@BobWidlefish]

Awesome! I wish you all the best on this great idea!

[@oni2ink]

This is really a nice design. I'm really looking forward to the kit!

[@SP-ny1fk]

Deadmaus has exited the chat

[@cpetropolis]

very impressive

[@contomo5710]

the reason you dont feel it is not because of the voltage or the expected resistance but because of the frequency! if something something timer goes wrong, you will definetly feel it!

[@rusencelik1272]

Can you demonstrate making of a pcb using edm? It would be an interesting thing considering the presicion.

[@adrasx6999]

This looks fu... very awesome! No cursing :)

[@bastiat691]

incredible, love it!

[@Placehold2222]

Oh MAN this is the sort of thing AvE or Thought Emporium could have a field day with! Just the thought of seeing all the cool stuff people will make with this and how this will change over time is amazing, so many possibilities!

[@seanburke997]

This looks sick

[@zyxwvutsrqponmlkh]

So many youtubeers over the decades have talked about doing this, few have shipped anything worth snot.

[@mr.cantsay]

I need to raise my prices.

[@VoxelsAnimation]

THIS IS AWESOME

[@yoav116]

very very cool

[@beartastic-ftw]

Holy moly! This seems potentially disruptive!

[@FruchtcocktailUndCo]

Suuuuper nice, Dude!

[@geneard639]

Just think, rapid prototyping using a 3D printer for the plastic parts, and EDM Machining metal parts. I bet the D&D crowd will love this tech to make the most ultimate dungeons.

[@satibel]

the next step is machining precision gears so you can have a 5th "lathe" axis, and cut way more complex part. maybe even a differential 6th axis (so the 2 motors in the same direction pivot the table, and in opposite direction pivot the part.) and that still allows you to keep the motors out of the water. also given the very low cutting speed, you could definitely use closed loop geared dc motors (or just geared steppers) to increase precision. if more stiffness is required, a cheap and relatively easy solution is to take a book off of 3d printed lathes and use concrete filled prints. I'm thinking of an optional shell tensioned with threaded rods. that should be relatively inexpensive and basically kill the motivation of anything that thinks about vibrating. I wonder how well you could increase precision by using a secondary unloaded gt2 core xy or hbot* system with a precision encoder like an AS5048A, on paper you could get around 1/550 mm (~2um) precision on a 16t pulley. * hbot is cheaper and doesn't need 2 heights, and it being unbalanced under load isn't an issue because the load would be very low. also given the price you could use a sensor on both ends, making it more reliable and maybe being able to squeeze a bit more precision. apparently you can get no backlash GT2 belts which have a lower lifespan, but since they wouldn't have any significant load on the feedback loop it should be fine. looking into it a 100:1 stepper seems to be ideal with an angular resolution of 0.018 degree. (so on paper enough for ~1-2um precision) and the speed is more than enough, because if we compare to the 50mm/s on an fdm printer, that's 30mm/min at 100:1, and they are pushed to over 250mm/s on higher speed printers and all that probably would add around 500 bucks, maybe 1k on the 2k price, so still pretty affordable for 10x the resolution of a good SLA printer in metal.

[@TheRealMrLaserCutter]

Nice

[@Gastell0]

Making replacement parts for itself with itself to improve the precision seems like one the next steps to take eventually

[@AlwaysCensored-xp1be]

I want one.

[@juliuswalsch]

with fasteners you mean screws?

[@mikealnutt360]

THIS!

[@noviceartisan]

Can't wait!! ^_^

[@kwk8363]

I am wondering about the surface finish. Is it because of too high current or too high voltage in the finishing pass? I am certain that it can be easily improved. What software is needed to program this machine?

[@ants114]

Just curious, how does it deal with steel or stainless and at different thicknesses?

[@davidawaters]

Super cool. Wire edm isn’t that rare worldwide though. In China, I’ve seen them within reach on a sidewalk right next to a convenience store. Where I worked, we ordered a lot of parts from Taiwan, Malaysia, and China and they’d often use wire or sinker EDM even when it wasn’t needed.

[@klyesam4006]

What has to happen to improve the cut speed?

[@Lucas_sGarage]

Wow

[@nicholasdelrossi3996]

This was my next project, you beat me to it (I’m a mechanical engineering student)

[@uiopuiop3472]

This is a god tier thing. I want EDM to be democratized the same way 3D printing was

[@chrishayes5755]

decentralized?

[@neverendingstudent]

​@@chrishayes5755 Democratized - in this context it is taken to mean 'made easily available with minimal barriers to the common person'.

[@uiopuiop3472]

@@neverendingstudent yeah

[@tristin5723]

Is there anyway to plung cut?

[@MorlockEngineering]

We will have a hole hopping toolhead for this machine in the future

[@yeabutwecouldbefreer]

I preordered the V2, is there a way that you can sell a betta wire kit without the powercore v2 so I don't have to have 2 power supplies?

[@RCHobbyist463]

Will there be a bigger version in the future? It looks like the rods could be replaced with longer ones and the frame could be printed wider.

[@cooperzurad7012]

The design will release with easily modified parameters

[@vmiguel1988]

What about the water filtration system?

[@OrangeDuster]

id reupload, audio is left side only. really amazing project though!

[@mikealnutt360]

Man I'd def be a big help working with a team on creating machines like this however I live in ny and my sons still in school.

[@CharlesSnyder]

Well, there goes my left ear...

[@greg4367]

I will go from "following" to "interested/maybe buying" when you demonstrate your slicer actually working. Good luck, I hope that follows soon.

[@Brian-S]

Oh boy did you just say wire edm LDO kit??? Crazy bro this is awesome

[@nasmmakes]

Looks amazing! Do you plan on adding shipping to outside the US (since you support eg EU voltage)? And if this comes through LDO, do you have an ETA? Thanks!

[@cooperzurad7012]

Just added EU this morning!

[@nasmmakes]

oh nice, thanks!

[@salame_essiccato4802]

when do you think you will start shipping to Europe too?, I'm super interested in this product and I would buy it immediately, but since I'm not in the USA I can't

[@cooperzurad7012]

Just added EU!

[@KarlMiller]

@Morlock - I am likely broadcasting my ignorance, but... ... Is this machine capable of doing "plunge" cuts? I thought I have seen it before, but haven't seen it yet for this machine how to cut anything but a toolpath that begins from an outer edge.

[@MorlockEngineering]

Yes, if you swapped the wire tool out for a plunge tool. The Powercore and the software can do it

[@steelcannibal]

This is going to be a game changer for a number of hobbies, and prototype labs. Keep up the awesome work!❤️

[@MorlockEngineering]

Absolutely! We have received an flood of emails from labs, shops, and universities asking for machines like this.

[@iniciusv1]

Unfortunately, in my country, importing is not an option. I will eagerly await the opportunity to try to build my own. Anyway, thank you very much for sharing knowledge, I love your videos.

[@robertroy6094]

I'm interested. Count me in.

[@OnlyLyricsMatter]

Incredible. A reductive metal process thats safe for most, incredibly precise, and geared for worldwide consumer power types. And its DIY with familiar software. This is already excellent. How many at home inventors just took a huge leap forward? Future shaping tech here.

[@MakeSomething]

This is insanely well thought out. Crazy impressive. How long have you been working on this design?

[@cooperzurad7012]

The original design took about 5 weeks from concept to this stage. More improvements to come

[@JulianMakes]

Ok this looks game changing. Brilliant effort. I hope i can get a kit. I’m heading to your website. Do you ship to Spain? (Please please!)

[@cooperzurad7012]

We will! I updated shipping earlier today

[@JulianMakes]

Thank you!

[@hardware4200]

Wow, I've been following you for a while now, brilliant stuff here. I missed the Kickstarter. Count me in on at least one if not two of these machines.

[@hignaki]

Audio is only on the left. It's super weird

[@ChuckThree]

Right?

[@Argosh]

​@@ChuckThreeI see what you did there.

[@a-k-jun-1]

I was sitting here fussing thinking my headphones had started dieing

[@g45h96]

It's not open source if you don't actually publish the source. I don't see anywhere that stl, Gerber, or any other relevant files are published for someone to make it themselves or fork the design.

[@joshuaweezorak7042]

I remember back when I was in the machining field, I felt something like this was only available to industries and people with too much money. I'm glad that this is now available to most people if not everybody.

[@whitewittock]

I don't know if wire is the way to go for home hobbyists. I thought die sink edm using 3d printed and plated , or 3 axis 'milling' with EDM would be more versatile. Wire edm is 2d and very limiting

[@bill4639]

OMG! Thank you! I too have had great frustration with spark generation and high outsourcing costs. I feel your pain. I am 100% buying this kit.

[@spusuf]

Is there a roadmap for release?

[@SirRobinII]

How do you create 4axis gcode to run in klipper?

[@R_802]

That is so cool, can't wait to see where you guys take this in the future.

[@MorlockEngineering]

Me too.

[@MrDereBear]

I’ve been following your work since you were experimenting with ECM. This is amazing progress! Keep up the good work! I’m so excited about the prospect of true thick steel machining on a relatively inexpensive desktop machine. You've definitely been putting in the effort! Best of luck!

[@Erosgenuino]

¿qué es esta maquina?, ¿ para que sirve?

[@xxxm981]

I mean shit, with this you could easily make your own carbide tooling and work on tungsten and other silly things.

[@MrMaxymoo22]

Dude. There's thousands of wedms in Indiana alone. It's not that rare.

[@christianbureau6732]

NEED

[@RaoulEvilD]

Take my money! ... And my respect for you! You just revived my motivation for tinkering with diy CNC tools. Thank you!

[@seljd]

next time just set the audio to mono please

[@theboss2k]

The prusa of edm machines??

[@rarespaul9503]

all of this is incredible, the concept of building a diy wire edm just blue me mind🎉

[@vnagaravi]

My right ear is dead...😢

[@Eluderatnight]

Fast hole function?

[@MorlockEngineering]

Soon.

[@probesport]

dude.

[@mercedg]

I LOVE THIS, I love how I’m seeing people like you more and more make cool things for people like me who can’t afford the current stuff that’s out today

[@TheSquirreless]

Shut up and take my money!

[@3DandTeePrinting]

Saw this Working at RMRRF. Very interesting machine.

[@andresa6994]

Here in Brasil we still use a lot of this EDM machines, but most of them are old, i would love to make one of these to inporve my metal machining capabilitys.

[@matthewgiannotti3355]

This is so awesome! Great job, I can't wait!!

[@TheRealStructurer]

I don’t need one, but I want one! All the best and thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@D4mations]

This for sure is my next project

[@wackamoles]

Fantastic work, subbed

[@VEC7ORlt]

The movement system is easy, how about the elephant - what about keeping the solution/dielectric clean? AFAIR this very important and a lot of startups struggled with that part a lot.

[@abowden556]

it does seem to be something they are working on, according to the pics morlock has been posting on discord anyway, at the very least they are designing a de-ioniser system.

[@Bruceanddenise]

Man, you got some ideas brewin' in my head!

[@1stWorldProblemsSolved]

Very Nice, can't wait to build one!

[@thomas-xavierguimont2760]

This awsome. Tried to make a very cheap machine on an internship (in a fablab and almost on my own). My water pump was a turtle aquarium pump with an activated charcoal filter 😂. Was not enough water presure tho. I achieved a automated 5 mm cut at the end of the summer while starting from nothing. I am still a student. And interessted in an intership.

[@justanotheranonymous4381]

Hello. I saw your other video and I would recommend that you or your engineers investigate the possibility of using a transistor as a power resistor instead of a "heated plate". I would also recommend that in addition to the wire for EDM , you keep the rod EDM functionality in the case that there is a need to make a concave object or a cavity. Looking forward for the rotary axis.

[@MorlockEngineering]

The Powercore V2 does not use a power resistor. It uses a buck converter with a capacitor bank and MOSFET output stage.

[@applepiesapricots3109]

Your and other DIY EDM developers are doing world-changing work. Legitimately, if this can become refined enough it will completely shift home technology and science, like how 3d printers have changed the face of learning engineering.

[@Island.dweller]

Great work. Look forward to the release.

[@61quick]

For me, the Powercore V2 Starter Kit looks to be more my speed to try this all out. Hope to see a vid on that soon. This is some nice work. Well done.

[@DarkMatterLP1]

hi! i'd like to apply as a "cad junkie" lemme know if youre still looking

[@DrLesterTheSmith]

This is brilliant on so many levels.

[@TheAstronomyDude]

This is genius! Every robotics development lab on the planet will want one. Best of luck guys!

[@MadHatter123456]

Amazing work!

[@akashsaini100]

a new wave like reprep project is going to start with this machine