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  #1  
Old 09-02-2014, 02:43 PM
Lister1
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Default Copper electrode

I need a copper electrode for my spot welder. But I do not know is any copper good, or must be specific copper alloys.
I've been looking for information on the internet, but I have not found a specific answer.
Maybe somebody here knows.
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Old 09-02-2014, 03:16 PM
hot rivet hot rivet is offline
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They are usually Beryllium copper or chrome copper to add strength with higher temps in use, pure copper will bend on the arms or mushroom on the electrodes
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Old 09-02-2014, 05:32 PM
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Frank.de.Kleuver Frank.de.Kleuver is offline
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Be aware of filing or sanding beryllium copper. I thought it was cancer related in fine powder form.

We use a lot of the stuff on our doors of the anechoic chambers as a conductive seal. It was always hard to get it thru customs.

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Old 09-02-2014, 07:57 PM
crystallographic crystallographic is offline
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Originally Posted by Frank.de.Kleuver View Post
Be aware of filing or sanding beryllium copper. I thought it was cancer related in fine powder form.
Frank
Beryllium copper is nasty stuff, as Frank says. Building beryllium bike frames caused a lot of illness.

Spot weld electrodes are also zirconium copper.
I found this in a quick search:
http://www.nsrw.com/products/electrodes.php
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Old 09-02-2014, 09:36 PM
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I don't think the tips are made from BeCu. It's a darker color than copper. Are your tips water cooled? If so any copper will work pretty well.
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Old 09-02-2014, 09:56 PM
crystallographic crystallographic is offline
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I don't think the tips are made from BeCu. It's a darker color than copper. Are your tips water cooled? If so any copper will work pretty well.
Right, he's in Croatia so the machine could be from Italy, Poland, Ukraine, etc. and the tips could be made from .... ?
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Old 09-02-2014, 10:17 PM
bobadame bobadame is offline
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Ok, start with ofhc copper. It's readily available and relatively inexpensive. If he wants something more durable use CuCr or CuCrZr, or CuCoBe. Wear a dust mask if your machining process creates dust.
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Old 09-04-2014, 02:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hot rivet View Post
pure copper will bend on the arms or mushroom on the electrodes
That's what's happening to me.


My spot welder is from Italy, but I need a round bar that is not in the standard offer.
Offers of copper alloys in my area is poor, but I found cu-cr-zr. And according to your writing, it should be fine.
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Old 09-04-2014, 04:42 PM
hot rivet hot rivet is offline
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What are you specifically looking for (size application etc)

This may help in selection of material composition http://www.nsrw.com/products/specialty_metals.php

Excess force or overheating from exceeding current density of tips or duty cycle can also cause problems.
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