Mould machining system combines HSC and EDM

Mould machining system combines high speed cutting and EDM technology in one system to significantly reduce mould-making production lead times and costs.

At the Euromold 2005 exhibition in Frankfurt, OPS-Ingersoll Funkenerosion, Germany, will present the MoldCenter, a machine combining HSC and EDM technology in one system.

This compound technology significantly reduces both production lead times and costs - all for the benefit of the customer.

The MoldCenter - to be exhibited in Hall 8 Stand P 113 - allows the electrodes milled by means of high speed cutting (HSC) to be automatically transferred to machining of the mold using electric discharge machining (EDM).

This strategy is particularly advantageous when the electrodes are made of graphite, since manual refinishing is superfluous in this case.

The result: production lead times and electrode wear are considerably reduced.

These production steps can theoretically be executed by single machines from other manufacturers; however, manual assistance is necessary.

The MoldCenter from OPS-Ingersoll allows for optimised process monitoring of the sink erosion process without human control.

The use of graphite electrodes is necessary, though, since copper electrodes require manual refinishing.

Previously it was not possible to use graphite electrodes for precise machining in mold making, due to the higher degree of wear.

This problem was solved by OPS-Ingersoll with their new MultiPulse Pro technology, which is used for optimised process monitoring in EDM processes.

It not only significantly reduces electrode wear; the number of individual electrodes is also drastically lowered compared to copper electrodes.

Thus production lead times for processing are cut by half.

Precision is even improved in comparison with copper electrodes, since the lower number of electrodes means that fewer processing steps are needed.

A high-performance CAD/CAM department is essential for the effective use of the MoldCenter from OPS-Ingersoll.

The MoldCenter exhibited at the EuroMold 2005 consists of OPS 650 and Gantry 500.

In addition to this process innovation, OPS-Ingersoll is presenting the OPS 650 in the field of milling technology and the Gantry 800 in the field of EDM technology.

HSC milling machine OPS 650 is suitable for a wide variety of applications.

More universal than previous models, it is the right choice for detail machining and larger cutting operations.

It can be used to cut virtually any type of material.

OPS 650 convinces at both low and extremely high speeds, with high feed capacities and absolute precision.

It can optionally be equipped with two high dynamical rotational axes.

The Gantry 800 portal EDM machine features a considerably larger working room compared to a relatively small floor space.

This universal machine - suitable for middle-size to large-size workpiece dimensions - is equipped with digital, maintenance-free AC servo drives and the so-called High Speed Jump (HSJ) in the Z-axis.

The fast acceleration reduces dead time between the actual electric discharge machining steps.

In this way time needed for machining of deep slots can be reduced by as much as 50%.

By using additionally automatic table clamping systems productivity is enhanced to the maximum possible utilisation.

* About HK Technologies - HK Technologies is a leading UK provider of Machine Tools and offers the latest technological products and solutions to the manufacturing industry.

We are located in Rugby in the United Kingdom and manufacture laser marking machines for home and export markets.

In addition we represent some of the worlds market leading companies and offer these products to UK Manufacturing.

We supply manufacturing solutions in a number of industries including the following: aerospace, automotive, general engineering, medical, marine, jewellery, mould and die, rapid prototyping and styling.

Back to top