The Craftmans Shop > New from Old
Tidying Up An Analoy 1401 Alloy Analyser
awemawson:
One of the issues that I find with the Analyser is that the sharply pointed graphite electrodes wear down very rapidly. The book say to use a new one for each test. Sometimes I can get away with using one electrode for two tests but not often. I think that the issue is that as the electrode wears down the discharge is no longer at the optical axis of the input lens.
It occurred to me that my other manual Analyser the Metascope uses a tungsten electrode that lasts a long time, so perhaps I can somehow create a suitable tungsten point. The graphite ones are 3 mm diameter and held in a tiny collet chuck, so I need to find a bit of 3 mm tungsten. Maybe a TIG rod. The Analyser limits the arc current to 6 amps and the voltage to 50V so I don’t think the difference in electrode resistance will be a problem
philf:
Andrew,
I have several broken 3mm shank tungsten carbide end mills (or slot drills)
Would they work?
I could easily grind a point.
I guess you can't measure carbon or tungsten content of your material.
Phil.
awemawson:
Phil thank you kindly yes that probably is a good way to go - PM incoming
(Picture attached of the 3 mm graphite ones to show the proportions - they are about 1/2" long)
awemawson:
I came across this scholarly article on the use of pencil leads as electrodes for analysers - pencil leads were my first thought for replacement graphite points some years ago
Sea.dog:
Have you read it all Andrew? :D
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