Product category:
EDM diesinking
News Release from: Agie Charmilles | Subject: Hyperspark HS die-sinking EDM machine
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 November 2006
EDM technology and consultation win
purchase
Investment by a mould and die maker in an advanced, high performance, die-sinking EDM was determined by the supplier's help in reducing lead times and raising cost competitiveness.
Aylesbury, UK-based, market-leading mould tool specialist - Beaubury Precision Moulds (BPM) - has recently invested in a new, high performance Agie Hyperspark HS spark erosion EDM machine from AgieCharmilles GF The machine, installed at the company's 18,000ft2 purpose-built facility in June 2006, is being used to manufacture complex (single and multi-impression) extrusion blow mould tools for a diverse range of clients located within the UK, Ireland and Europe - across an equally diverse range of industries that include - medical, household goods, automotive, cosmetic and other industrial sectors
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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BPM's decision to invest in the Hyperspark EDM machine was driven by a number of manufacturing and business imperatives.
Said Paul Matthews, managing director at Beaubury Precision: "The market for blow mould tools is global and is highly competitive.
Over the last few years we have spent considerable time, resource and effort positioning ourselves at the higher added-value end of the market - as a route to securing new business, creating differentiation and maintaining our competitive edge." Matthews said: "But to make this work we need access to the very latest advanced machine tool technologies and manufacturing processes to achieve the ever-increasing mould tool complexity and quality (accuracy, surface finishes, etc), reduced lead times and cost competitiveness demanded by our customers.
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The investment in the Hyperspark machine is integral and vital to us being able to achieve our business plans." The production capabilities at BPM reflect the company's strategic business approach.
Recent investments in high-speed and 5-axis CNC milling machines - as well as new CMM equipment and constant investment in the latest CAD/CAM software - have all contributed (and continue to contribute) to the company's success.
However, up until the arrival of the Hyperspark machine - BPM's EDM capabilities were not on par with its other CNC machine tools - in terms of performance and sophistication.
The company's old spark erosion machine - whilst still reliable - had a number of limitations.
Key amongst these were its lack of a tool changer - meaning that the company could not benefit from unattended operations or reduced set-ups.
The older machine's lack of an integrated C-axis meant that the machine could not cope with rotational and spiral machining - especially important for sparking complex thread forms in the bottleneck of the mould tool.
The machine also had relatively slow material removal rates.
With the Hyperspark HS machine - BPM is achieving significant performance benefits.
Material removal rates up to 550mm3/min using copper electrodes are now being achieved as is a surface finish of 0.2 micron Ra and better.
And, by using relatively simple copper electrodes, the Hyperspark is machining the bottleneck forms considerably quicker (and with greater precision) than was previously possible with the company's more labour-intensive helical milling approach.
Said Rob Beaumont, technical director at Beaumont Precision Moulds: "The Hyperspark machine is solving our production problems today - and, because of the machine's sophistication (high-performance generator, powerful and functional Agievision control) - we are confident it will be solving our manufacturing problems for many years in the future too." However, BPM's decision to purchase the Hyperspark was not only to do with the machine's specification and performance attributes.
Continued Beaumont: "As well as the machine itself we were also impressed with Agie's proactive approach to our production requirements.
They took the time to understand what we wanted to achieve and then came back to us with a 'fit-for-purpose' solution - the other companies we talked to just didn't put the time or the effort in." Said Max Swinbourne, Agie product specialist: "We are delighted that BPM has invested in Agie technology.
The Hyperspark machine is proving to be extremely popular with precision tool makers, not only in the UK, but also in the rest of the world too.".
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