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News Release from: GTMA | Subject: GTMA - FASTOOL project - EDM electrode CAM
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 November 2005
Faster milling of graphite electrodes -
FASTOOL
The FASTOOL project, led by GTMA, is now delivering results to toolmakers participating in the project in the form of a software wizard for milling graphite EDM electrodes.
The wizard, developed by project participant Delcam and based on algorithms generated by TNO, another project partner, is a prototype toolpath generator, which is highly automated and designed not only to facilitate the machining operation, but more importantly to greatly reduce both programming time and reject rates The special material characteristics of graphite; particularly its brittleness and fragility under tensile loads, call for special milling strategies when creating EDM electrodes
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The FASTOOL wizard offers high spindle revolution and feed rates to produce thin wall machining and good surface quality on 3D surfaces.
Using a limited choice of milling tools, the automated NC programming tool allows the user to define just six parameters to generate the complete sequence in three minutes (without calculation) providing a reduction of programming time of up to 90%.
Toolmakers involved in the FASTOOL project are now starting to use the beta test software in their own toolrooms.
A fact sheet on the software is available from GTMA.
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