Worlds First DIY Wire EDM Lathe!

This video shows the design, build and use of a DIY wire EDM Lathe.
More information on:
www.baxedm.com/
Special thanks go to Riano Eindhoven for helping out on anodizing the aluminum parts used in this video:
www.riano.nl/

[@evanhawkins6073]

"so I wrote a custom program for it." I'm so impressed by this guy. He can do it all.

[@maikeydii]

FYI, only austenitic stainless steels are antimagnetic (most common types being 304 and 316). Martensitic, ferritic and duplex stainless steels are magnetic.

[@novachig]

Exactly, being magnetic doesn't necessarily mean it's not stainless

[@avelkm]

Yeah, but since it took blueing so well it's most probably not stainless anyway

[@Hati321]

@@avelkm agreed

[@GraphicManInnovations]

@@avelkm good point from u, i hear stainless does not take blue, however cold blueing AFAIK does not provide any corrosion resistance!

[@benhoffmann6870]

Yes to above comments. 17-4 stainless is magnetic, its about as corrosion resistant as 304, and is very strong, high yield strength, good elongation before failure, and widely used when you want a high strength steel with stainless corrosion properties.

[@kingofcastlechaos]

I have been a maker for over 50 yrs. These sorts of technologies- 3D printing, EDM, cheap positioning servos and microcontrollers are the stuff of dreams. I love the fact that a maker getting started today will have these technologies available to them right at the starting line. The cost is always going down overall, and they can build, innovate, and iterate so much faster and more precise than we ever thought possible. It is a great time to be a maker!! Having said that, us old-timers have a lot to share, and I mentor young people in robotics and fabrication and encourage everyone to mentor others. Share what you know and learn together. Amazing video BAXEDM!!

[@danielmccurdy5080]

do you have any advice for someone like me who is still in college studying a trade or career path? For example I would like to build my own inverted extrusion 3d printer which someone has made on their own similar to this guys start from scratch but doing that can be a bit daunting as I am not aware of possible blocks such as coding.

[@komoru]

The technology isn't "available right at the starting line". Far from it. The arc controller alone is nearly $3000 Euros (!). That alone puts it out of the reach of most "hobby" guys, especially a someone on a beginner budget. What is available today "at the starting line" (i.e. as a complete novice machinist) is the internet and youtube, and the ability for people to share ideas like this. Before you'd have to apprentice at a shop for years to even operate such a machine. I would hardly consider this EDM machine a "beginner" level machine to build as quite a few other processes and skills (CAD, Fusion 360, 3-D printing, proficiency with various machining operations (lathe/mill), etc) are necessary to construct such a machine, and there's a learning curve on each of the afformentioned skills. You'll also need to be extremely ambitious and have boatloads of free time, money, and the right equipment to put it all together (or you'll need money to pay someone else who does. Many people may not have a month or two available to drop everything they're doing and build one of these when they have bills to pay and customers to serve. STILL, it is great that BAX has made plans available for those who are skilled and ambitious enough to tackle such an undertaking!

[@jerbear7952]

I'm getting to the stage of old timer and I feel the same way. There are different types of old timers. The ones who want the new guys to go through the same crap we did, and then there are the people who see the future through the eyes of the new guys. Why wouldn't we want to make things better for them. We should be excited that they don't have to put up with the same nonsense we did. Anyhow, better get back to the flint knapping.

[@janosszabo98]

​@@komoru You missed his point by a mile. He said available, not affordable. And I don't want to put words in his mouth, but pretty sure he meant some of these new technologies didn't exist, wasn't feasible, or maybe only existed in a theoretical level. The first 3D printing pattern was filed in the mid 80's and it only became a mainstream and affordable technology in the last decade or so. And that's just one of many new technologies that is now available to anyone. It's not like anyone could afford a full sized milling machine and lathe right off of the machinist school either back in the day... Anyway, the point is, if you want to be an inventor prodigy, go right ahead. Yo have a lot more and lot better technology available than the old timers did. You can't afford it? That's a You problem.

[@danarrington2224]

What is not widely known is that the technology available to "makers"(a ridiculous term that pseudointellectuals came up with to make them feel special) today is actually outdated, recycled tech made in China. If you are just starting out in manufacturing, you really need to learn from highly skilled people in a modern manufacturing environment. For example, That "servo" motor he used to drive that spindle is actually an encoded stepper motor, not a servo motor. My point is that if you want to be a manufacturing professional, don't cut your teeth on 30 year old technology.

[@memoryerror]

For the M5/M6 bit, it seems to me like you would not be able to use the M5 bit because the M6 side would be too big for the tool. Very cool stuff though.

[@kingcosworth2643]

I was looking for this comment, I agree

[@alphamichi]

@@kingcosworth2643 same

[@MSNsee4d]

Same

[@ridetheapex]

I knew I was not the only one to wonder about this. Lol

[@Anyone700]

Optical illusion M6 key is 4mm

[@jeyanthgoringe600]

Fun fact: Lots of old satellites from early space exploration have metal bearings in their reaction wheels (spinning weights used to rotate the satellite) and static would build up and jump from the inner ring to the outer ring of the bearing which would damage it slowly over time. This unfortunately was the reason a bunch of old satellites, which otherwise worked, were decommissioned or abandoned.

[@christopherleveck6835]

Hubble is.having this problem i think. They are down two reaction wheels and using the remaining ones with some voodoo generated software code to compensate....

[@jerbear7952]

isn't it funny how smart you can be, think of every outcome and then BAM! The ol' static bearing discharge problem again. :)

[@Kumquat_Lord]

Usually correlated with strong solar activity. The funniest part is the solution came years before they figured out why they failed. The bearings were switched to ceramics quite a few years before the static discharge failure was explained.

[@williampeck428]

Fun fact show me a picture of a satelite. Spoiler alert you cant

[@IDoNotLikeHandlesOnYT]

Scott Manley video on this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZrFhWCGerJ7i7c (interesting comments too) But "lots of old satellites from early space exploration" makes it sound like this happened several decades ago, when it was much more recent than that. Kepler, Dawn, Hayabusa, and other relatively recent spacecraft are suspected to have had reaction wheels fail due to this.

[@3089io]

You say you "can't" do ball detents, but we believe in you.

[@davidbwa]

Very nice. I came here because I didn't know what an EDM lathe was. (or an EDM). What a cool machine.

[@wildniscamper7276]

3:47 i'd like to see you pushing in the 5mm ball into the 4mm shunk😂 awesome crazy stuff btw👌

[@the_chomper]

that is incredibly awesome. home manufacturing is getting to be better and better everyday.

[@joea5729]

Thank you immensely for what you are designing and sharing with the world. You have a brilliant mind and a good heart.

[@Embassy_of_Jupiter]

EDM is magic if you ask me. You are in fact a wizard.

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Great video, also appreciate the many steps you explain to isolate and protect the parts from electrical and mechanical corrosion.

[@RookieLock]

Amazing.. Absolutely great work. I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for taking us along !

[@gregseljestad2793]

I am totally blown away with this. Ive heard of wire EDM but never seen it in action. I am impressed with your mind! Wow. Thank you!

[@helmutzollner5496]

Great idea! Excellent execution. Thank you for sharing.

[@max_eley]

Excellent video! glad to see you again, what a great display of engineering, that was just awesome!

[@andrewbarnett84]

I had an idea that may help. If the wire runs horizontal in the water, then the rotary axis can be vertical meaning the rotary electrical connection can be out of the water. Another thought, use standard lathe water based coolant, which also works as a lubricant. I have repaired machines called a "Spark Eroder", If I remember correctly they used a tungsten pin to do the eroding, they were making dies for plastic part injection molding.

[@i_might_be_lying]

Amazing little wEDM! So useful. Enjoyed this video so much

[@robertpatience4866]

Thank you very much for all of your work, It is all very inspiring, I will be building an EDM in future for sure!

[@troy_neilson]

Fantastic video. Very glad I found your channel!

[@arjenchristianhelder1027]

Cool project man! very nicely done, good workarounds on the issues you were presented with, and the results speak for themselves! Thumbs Up!

[@tarantoular]

nice work ! i like that you don't hide the problems of process (subscribed)

[@KolyaNadj]

Finaly a new video! This really makes your EDM machine much more versatile. Tools for milling machine and lathe maybe? Also nice shoots with rotating plate.

[@mikehibbett3301]

Awesome! And a wonderful contribution to the state of the art for us hobbyists

[@AnonymousAnarchist2]

Your the guy! That guy, the guy who does DIY EDM machines! Glad I found you after hearing about you from the guys at several shops.

[@randomhuman1965]

Incredible!!! So Awesome! You are absolutely the MAN. Je bent een echte held. Zo mooi.

[@mumblbeebee6546]

very impressive and very useful! Three cheers for open sourcing your work!

[@MarshallMcFarlin]

Wonderful video. Thanks again for your time and innovation 💡 🙏.

[@markifi]

beautiful assembly and well thought out power delivery to the motor.

[@thomasgerdes3848]

This is not just another Bit - this is an Piece of Art !!

[@near--zero]

Incredibly fascinating, and excellent work my friend.

[@dedmaroz8943]

This is incredible stuff bro, great work!!

[@martinnovak3949]

Great video! We need more content from you!

[@valentinrusu8844]

No comment!... Just a big WOW !!! What a beautiful work!

[@redmimic5532]

This was awesome!! Very nice work

[@carlossol999]

Thank you for all your work.

[@GNARGNARHEAD]

always love to see EDM projects, the problem with the bearings never even occurred to me.. might of got away with it on the design for the first prototype 😆 thanks TheIdahoanShow had some luck using diesel as a dielectric, seemed to do the trick nicely

[@michael_hb179]

Great work! Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@Acheiropoietos]

Rudely competent and inspiring. Well done.

[@scottroland6577]

Absolutely, Brilliant and Amazing !! Thanks for sharing your brilliant ideas with the rest of us. Sincerely, Scott C. Roland

[@mikemoore9757]

It looks like you have a winner! Nice job!

[@coulterjb22]

Amazing work!

[@vmiguel1988]

Amazing work as usual!

[@ryanmckenna2047]

That machine is incredible very good nice work!

[@Deva-Jufan]

Some very nicely built machines there!

[@pgjuzek]

love the custom software :D very impressive work!

[@newmonengineering]

With this, you should also be able to create a new collet of any size you wanted. Since it can cut the fine lines it could make some really nice collets. Just a thought!!

[@bigiron4018]

Any shape! Non symmetrical even.

[@boblewis5558]

Stainless set of collets next? 🤔🙄😁🤣🤣

[@larrykent196]

Nice job, interesting idea. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!

[@va3ngc]

Absolutely brilliant! I definitely need to build one of these. Thanks for posting this. This would be a great tool to add to my maker workshop.

[@jerbear7952]

If you build it, we can hang out more. :)

[@theofficialczex1708]

Bax strikes again! Excellent work.

[@marianodiaz461]

Great video Mike, very interesting

[@AaronHarlow]

Fantastic - great work! Thank you.

[@cwozildjian]

Awesome design man! Very impressive!

[@tessenCNC]

Congratulations Mike, great job! 👏🏼👏🏼 I loved the video, the fourth axis for the wire cut is something that I would also like to add to my machine, I'll write down the idea, the truth is that the wire cut allows to do incredible things. I recently cut a pinion with a "D" type hole that I could not find commercially, it is a simple piece, but it is not easy to find, or make internal gears for my gearboxes, the number of teeth and size you need, it is a wonder to have this technology.

[@danny36120]

love it!! an awesome challenge would be to wire edm your own stainless steel er25 collets with the machine using the tool steel ones, so by the time they corode, you have a new diy steel er25 collet set and a new video to make xD love your work!! really next level

[@-MaXuS-]

Just beautiful, beautiful!

[@homemadetools]

Rare tool build. We shared this video on our homemade tools forum this week 😎

[@baxedm9806]

Thanks for sharing! More rare tools in the works 😁

[@homemadetools]

@@baxedm9806 Nice; I'll keep an eye out for them. Let me know if you want a free premium forum membership so you can post your videos on the forum whenever you want. We have lots of YTers on board.

[@WestKyCrime]

Great content, great story line, great camera shots, great editing, great sound, great technical content - I'm very impressed! Thank you for your effort and commitment to the EDM community - Todd

[@buddhimanivantha6719]

Awesome work

[@PWLopes9000]

Brilliant idea for the EDM

[@pedromendes3277]

thanks for the vid and info. This is Brilliant!!!

[@swemachinist]

This is an absolutely amazing video👏👏👏 defenetly subscribed

[@jarodhohl861]

awesome work and presentation.

[@justintupicruz6324]

This is awesome bro good job.

[@billpeiman8973]

II noticed that you are from Eindhoven (PSV fan, of course!). I am an avid Fetenoord fan (left R'dam for Canada in 1966). Have been in the cnc field for almost 50 years. Great work.

[@rickt1866]

cool build guy thx for the upload,

[@honourandtradition8078]

This is some really interestinf stuff. You gained a new sub

[@Norse1957]

Absolutely BRILLIANT!

[@backwardsmachining7526]

You reminded me I have to finish my edm machine. Awesome video.

[@chrisdixonstudios]

well done , thanks for sharing!

[@mononito]

dude you are awesome, i've subscribed after the first video.

[@fahrettinsekerci6430]

Great job thanks for sharing ❤

[@23lkjdfjsdlfj]

Extraordinary! Bravo!

[@jonathanseagraves8140]

oh wow... this is actually awesome.

[@George.___]

Amazing work! This type of home shop technology development is not only possible today because of the tools available to DIY engineering enthusiasts, but mainly because of the genius ingenuity of DIY engineering enthusiasts like yourself and the creative implementation of tools, both off-the-shelf & self-developed, to achieve novel and practical uses not previously available to anyone!

[@Schuylkill]

Thanks for the video, great watch.

[@tdevinetampa]

You are a good man, thank you.

[@electronicsandewastescrapp7384]

first? No. First truly SUCCESSFUL and USABLE? Absolutely! Great work.

[@tarunarya1780]

Beautiful machine. Really great development story. Would love to have one.Having seen infinite videos of frustration on cnc upgrades and lathes to cut metal, your machine is wonderful. Quite pricey for my home occasional use, but I'm sure reasonable compared to commercial ones. Thanks for the video.Inspiring. Follow up would be good depending on how much you have used it.

[@npalen]

Neat stuff! Takes me back to the sixties using an Elox EDM to burn broken thread taps out of workpieces with hollow electrodes.

[@josearnaldopinheirodossant7712]

Good job !

[@Hati321]

Very cool. Thank you.

[@robertpasierbski9360]

Great Job.

[@meetim2931]

I am a Mechanical Engineer (University Bachelor degree) but before that I was a Fitter / Machinist, so I know my way around a vernier caliper and a set of allen keys. However I trained and worked with Mechanical Engineers that wouldnt know one end from the other. Its not a given that ME's are familiar with hand tools, that knowledge is usually gained after hours. I have heard people use the ME description when they really mean Mechanical Technician, or even Mechanic.

[@evren.builds]

I love the cybertool as well :) It has come to my rescue on many occasions. It is almost like carrying a toolbox with you :)

[@divertechnology]

wow great video

[@dansworld9635]

Great video. Thumbs up. 👍

[@drewh0208]

Nice! Makes me want to build one!

[@adriaanbax5933]

Nice vid!

[@alexportiiii6414]

Thank you!

[@sealpiercing8476]

Less of a lathe and more of a rotary positioner. Which is in some ways more useful since this is EDM. Cool result!

[@GraphicManInnovations]

Genius, I love it, thank you

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Very nice video

[@hamiltonpianos]

Fantastic!!👍😁 Can’t think what I’d use an EDM for, but I’d really like to build one…!

[@jlucasound]

Awesome work! You have my Sub.

[@pedro_8240]

This is so cool. How I envy those who have the means to play around with all that cool stuff, if only I had the space and money required, I would have so much fun.

[@B11video]

I often wonder how these you tubers afford to do all the very expensive projects. Are they born wealthy? Are they balls deep in debt? Being poor sucks.

[@BackyardGarage999]

This was beaultiful

[@Sharedbook]

Just perfect!!!❤

[@MrTweetyhack]

Cuts like butter

[@beautifulsmall]

EDM looks like a supeior way to cut compared to plasma , waterjet or laser in the home workshop. I'm definetly going to look into this further, thanks for the great work. super interesting.

[@spazmaticaa7989]

Depends on what you're doing. Small stuff like this, sure, but if you need fast cuts plasma or laser are the way to go. Waterjet I don't think is great for home use though. The benefits of it just aren't there for the home DIYer.

[@Kumquat_Lord]

EDM is stupendous precise, but also quite slow