| In today's economy it is wise to think outside the | | | | Some areas have good technical colleges or |
| traditional box. A good example of this is training for | | | | community colleges that offer tool and die programs. |
| one of the EDM jobs that manufacturers are having a | | | | These are often 2 years associate degree courses |
| difficult time filling. | | | | that almost guarantee employment after graduation. It |
| There is nearly always a lack of skilled help in electrical | | | | is not uncommon to have a 95% placement rate. |
| discharge machining, or EDM. Also, the related fields, | | | | As the pool of skilled help ages, the need for new |
| such as EDM supplies and sales and service, are | | | | mold makers, precision machinists and tool and die |
| interesting and possibly profitable areas. | | | | makers will become critical. Very few companies are |
| One reason there is a chronic lack of skilled help is | | | | able or willing to take on and train apprentices |
| because there are so few schools that offer training in | | | | nowadays. |
| the use of the EDM machine. This is typical of the lack | | | | Some of the EDM supplies that are required include |
| of interest in manufacturing in the US. It is not nearly so | | | | the precision tooling used in the EDM machine. The |
| glamorous as a so-called professional job. | | | | electrode holders, automatic tool changers, pallet |
| With the decline of injection mold making and tool and | | | | changers, dielectric fluid and EDM filters all play an |
| die making in the US, this disinterest has increased, | | | | essential part in the overall process. |
| making the problem worse. If many companies go out | | | | Some companies, such as System 3R and Erowa, |
| of business, it leaves more work for the remaining | | | | have complete lines of EDM tooling. This can be a |
| companies still standing. When the economy picks up, | | | | very lucrative sales position, if you can land the job! A |
| the orders increase and suddenly, there is not enough | | | | background in tool making is a real plus because you |
| skilled help to do the job. | | | | can obviously talk the talk and at least partially walk |
| Some of the other related EDM jobs are high speed | | | | the walk! |
| milling, mold repair, micro welding, laser welding, WEDM | | | | EDM machine sales is another huge industry, with |
| (wire EDM), mold designer, tool and die designer, CAD | | | | great potential. The ambitious tool maker who desires |
| CAM programmer, precision surface grinding, and mold | | | | more than working 10 hour days in the shop is in a |
| polishing. | | | | great position to advance into the sales and service |
| Most EDM operators have at least been partially | | | | area. |
| trained in many of these disciplines, usually as part of | | | | Because of the tool making background, you can |
| an apprenticeship program. This is very helpful for job | | | | relate to the high speed milling machines, carbide |
| security and getting the job in the first place. The more | | | | cutters, micro welder, laser welder, wire EDM machine |
| well-rounded your skills are, the more beneficial you | | | | and the entire process. |
| can be to a company. | | | | |