Product category:
EDM wire cutting
News Release from: Charmilles Technologies Corporation | Subject: Charmilles Robofil 510 Wire EDM
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 March 2001
Charmilles EDM cell offers continuing
expansion
Glasgow Precision is finding increasing benefits from the introduction of Wire Electro Discharge Machining (WEDM) into their production routines.
What are the operating changes that affect a subcontract precision engineering company when it introduces a new technology? Glasgow Precision, based in Hillington, Glasgow, is a company that day-by-day is finding increasing benefits from the introduction of Wire Electro Discharge Machining (WEDM) into their production routines Until 1994, Glasgow Precision was principally a company who used CNC turning, milling and grinding to produce its components
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Expansion saw the company move into press tool work which resulted in the purchase of two Charmilles Technologies Robofil 510 Wire EDM centres in 1997 and 1998.
Today, Glasgow Precision's EDM centres continue to produce high quality precision components used in the manufacture of press tools, primarily for the computer and telecommunication sectors, as well as reducing work carried out on conventional machines.
The EDM cell at Glasgow Precision machines a multitude of materials to very tight tolerances, particularly important in the production of laser sights for defence supplier Barr and Stroud.
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Subcontract engineering company Bedestone is continually expanding its operations and has increased its wire erosion capacity, investing in the latest technology from Charmilles Technologies
EDM centres cut mould manufacturing lead times
In acquiring two Charmilles Robofil 2030SI Twin Wire EDM centres in May 2001, Broadbans Engineering is already realising significant savings in mould and die manufacturing lead times
'The benefits are numerous,' stated EDM Foreman, Michael Dyer.
'A typical example of work transfer is a component that requires multiple set ups and many man hours, which now gets machined on the wire in bulk.
This drastically reduces machine time and is more cost effective.
We can for example set up 50-60 components on the Robofil 510 by stacking or using fixtures, and in one hit, leave the Charmilles wires to produce parts to within +/- 2 microns with minimum operator interference, finished complete over a weekend.' Both Robofil 510's are fitted with automatic wire feed and more recently Charmilles CT Link service.
During an unmanned weekend operation the Robofil 510 will re-feed for a programmed amount of times.
In the unlikely event of a wire feed failure or cessation in machining, the machine will dial an on-call operator alerting him to the machines 'down' position.
Glasgow Precision can count 'blue chip' computer company's Compaq and IBM among its press tool clients as well as defence component manufacture Barr and Stroud and automotive OEM Albion Automotive among its precision engineering customer base.
However, the company still has traditional values and annually takes on apprentices, and here Michael Dyer finds a benefit in Charmilles' Program commands.
'The Robofil's Program Expert is a simple question and answer routine and a good starting point for any apprentice.
We currently have the wire EDM's linked to a PC in the cell which allows data transfer to the machines, again eliminating operator error and down time.' 'Any work to be done in a vee block or a vice will be set up on a pre-set station but the majority of our work is set up at the machine.
Although we will make random checks on dimensions we are happy to rely on the inherent accuracies of the Robofil 510, but the real beauty of the wire machine is its ability to produce a finished component with multiple operations in a single set up.
Although the two Robofil 510s allow us the opportunity to further increase our press tool work, we are continually seeing a requirement for larger tools, which can only see the EDM cell expanding.' concluded Dyer.
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