Product category:
EDM wire cutting
News Release from: Charmilles Technologies Corporation | Subject: Robofil 330F submerged wire systems
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 November 2002
EDM technology used at a very high level
The recent acquisition of three further Robofil 330F submerged wire systems will satisfy an increase in production at a specialised subcontractor.
"Having installed the UK's first Charmilles Robofil 330F wire EDM system in 1998 - adding to two Robofil 510 and Robofil 310 wire erosion systems, David Light, Managing Director of the Di-Spark Group, has continued to invest in Charmilles EDM technology The recent acquisition of three further Robofil 330F submerged wire systems will satisfy an increase in production, but as he explains - 'it is just a further step in utilising EDM technology to a very high level." "The Di-Spark Group is a provider of world class cost-effective manufacturing solutions based around EDM
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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One has to be aware of all the latest manufacturing techniques, and I am under no illusion that high-speed machining is a powerful production method, as is laser cutting, as is EDM whether wire or sparking.
Three years ago, along with our EDM partners, we attempted to educate the market as to the benefits of EDM technology.
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Today, although it is more widely accepted, EDM is still an immature machining process in that there is more growth possible than other processes.
There is a whole raft of industrial sectors that could embrace wire EDM." Each of the divisions within the Group has its own unique selling point.
The investment is consolidating the strengths of the Wire EDM division and the Integrated EDM division.
In the former, the three Robofil 330s now give Di-Spark eight Charmilles wires and has brought the capacity up to a level where the company can cope with any increase in capacity, whether expected or otherwise.
The machine technology is also interchangeable and with automatic wire feed they have been able to reduce manning levels.
The Robofil 310 has been moved into the Integrated cell sitting alongside a mix of Bridgeport and Cincinnati vertical machining centres.
In the design office, three seats of Licom's AlphaCAM/Solid Works see tool paths DNC-linked through a works scheduling package to machines in the cell.
'We have evolved out of jobbing shop mentality to where 60% of the work in the cell is now long term contract production work.' adds David Light.
'We are not into mass production - typically producing 10, 20-offs - but utilising the wires 24/7.
Micron accuracy is also not a pre-requisite in what is fundamentally a production unit, although we are capable of achieving tolerances of +/-5 microns.
The future will see us setting jobs off-line, I am not interested in whether a machine can produce a component in five minutes or four minutes 32 seconds - we are not in that environment.
However, I am concerned with removing a two hour machine set up.
We are in the 21st Century and we have to employ modern technology to 21st Century problems.
A machine tool is built to cut metal not set tools up on, whereas presetting is essential where set-up hours to run time is high.
That is not currently an issue in the Wire Cell but would be a solution if a bottleneck occurred." "Our investment in Charmilles Wire EDM is based on a belief in their expertise, knowledge and resources as dedicated manufacturers.
The six Robofil 330Fs and two Robofil 510s in the Charmilles Wire EDM cell, are fantastic all-round machines for the range of work we do - their not as 'highly strung' as other wire EDM products.
At present I firmly believe that I can still utilise EDM technology to a very high level." concluded David Light.
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