Power supply question

[Anthony Prime]

I have this old 1979 Wire edm that the pulse generator does not work. What if I were to hook up a controller and power supply to the wire instead of a laser tube? The requirements are basically the same, DC circuit, pulsed with frequency. I have other software to control the spark gap and motion or am I going to just spectacularly blow a power supply.

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[Gene Uselman]

Woooo- what is that? I googled the brand name and figured out EDM stands for Electrical Discharge Machine. Seems more of a machine shop tool?

[Anthony Prime]

Gene, yes, it uses a .010 brass wire to erode a fine kerf through steel and other metals. The wire is negative and the workpiece is positive. You control the spark erosion the same way as
laser tubes with frequency and pulse.

The part I'm not sure about is how a laser power supply going handle a direct pos/neg interaction. I'm looking for some member input to see if will work straight up like that or if I need a inline diodes.

EDM-electrical-discharge-machining-wire-cutting-brisbane-queensland.jpg

[Pete Cyr]

I won’t say that you can’t do that but I would be very surprised if the signal out of the edm is appropriate/meets the requirements power a co2 laser tube.

[Anthony Prime]

1 probably would be on the weak side and cut slow which is fine, 6-10 would be better.