Step 6 of 10
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Forge die building: why this course exists
The eight decisions that set forge die life before the first hit, and why the build is a chain where the weakest link sets the floor.
Step 6 of 10Decision 6 — EDM strategy
Rough-cut settings, finish-cut settings, recast layer thickness, and whether the recast comes off before nitride decide one of the most common forge die failure modes in the field. Nitriding straight over EDM recast traps a micro-cracked white layer beneath the case; the case spalls within a few thousand hits. Lesson 7 covers the finish-EDM settings and the polish pass that removes the recast.
Quick check
A vendor's EDM cert shows finish-cut at standard settings on H13 at 48 HRC. The next step on the routing is gas nitride. What is the predictable failure mode if the routing does not include a polish pass between EDM and nitride?