Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (How the Tyrade blades are cut)

kneedeep

kneedeep

Joined
Jan 28, 2007
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I had been wondering how the Tyrades amazing composite blades were cut. Is Wire EDM (Wire Electrical Discharge Machining) the process used to cut those tiny shapes? Any chance of us seeing pictures of the blade parts before they are welded together? If its still too early on to be sharing that sort of info, I'll understand.

Seems like that machining method could be used to make some pretty amazing handle parts and scales too.
 
You are correct!! These parts are cut in house on our Wire Machine. Will try to get some pictures up soon.
 
This is the Wire EDM in action. It cuts so slow its like watching grass grow, but extremely accurate.
Wire1.jpg



Wire EDM
Wire2.jpg



3 different patterns on a Cyclone blade. The Cyclone blade was used as a test mule. No plans for production at this time.
Wire3.jpg



This is the block of 154CM that the MOAB blades were cut out of. 8 blades cut at the same time.
Wire4.jpg
 
Wow! :D

Totally amazing. Thanks Tif, for posting this stuff so quickly!

The potential this process has is phenomenal.
If you can combine it with MIM, the possible blade shapes, handle shapes and materials just make me dizzy!

Tim, have you been following the info about Friction Forging/Friction Stir Welding? Seems like you could use wire EDM to cut the FF'd edge of the blade and combine it with an optimal spine. Looks like the knife world is really about to make some even more incredible leaps.
 
now that is awsome! always cool to see pics of how it all works. can't wait to see what you guys come up with
 
Thanks for the pics...amazing.

Personally, for the Cyclone blade, I like the multiple dovetail cuts the best...gives it a no nonsense "precision steel" look....

Put it in production! I'll buy 2 right now, thank you....
 
Pretty cool.
Looks like a '96-'97 model CX-2 from Mitsu.

Anyone want to know what they're worth?

mike
 
In the pictures of the Tyrade, the copper used to weld the blade parts together seems to be visible. Is the the material used to weld the two parts together actually that visible? (Not that this is a bad thing.)

In some of the other prototypes shown, it isn't really visible. Were these using nickel for the welds?
 
kneedeep,

The Tyrade photo was enhanced a little so it would show up. It is not acutually that wide but you can see it with the knife in hand.
 
After the blades are cut, what is done with the leftover material. Can you still utilize it in house or will it have to go somewhere else for re-processing?

can you lay out multiple blades or designs on one block and cut it at once, so there is a minimum of leftover material? I know the MOAB was just a proto so there wouldn't have been reason to lay out more than one blade or blade type, but it looks like you could have fit two other smaller blade designs on that block.
 
The leftover material is simply recycled kneedeep.

I believe only one design can be cut at a time, but Tim may want to expand on that a bit.
 
I have alway liked seeing these type of blades!

My hat is off to you guys for doing it in a PRODUCTION knife!!:thumbup:

Can't wait to see one of these, am probably going to have to pick one up!

Tom
 
It does not matter how many different designs are cut on the same set up. You just have to have a piece of material large enough.
 
I guess, my thought was that you could lay out as many blade edges, all the same or different, whichever can be fit more tightly, with the least waste material on the expensive steels. If I am understanding how the Wire EDM process works, you would just need to make sure that the blades were laid out so they could be done in a continuous cut (just to avoid multiple setups). I know that the machines can only cut so many inches per minute, so the only time savings would be in set ups, but I figure you would end up saving money on steel that is ready to use.
 
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