Product category:
EDM wire cutting
News Release from: 600 Centre | Subject: Wire EDM
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 October 2007
Wire EDM has fewer parts and more
rigidity
An increase of 40 per cent to machine rigidity and twin-servo wire tension control giving 35 per cent fewer mechanical parts, are factors that improve performance of the latest Fanuc wire EDM range.
An increase in capacity making it the largest working volume in its class with faster automatic wire feed and improved thermal characteristics, an increase of some 40 per cent to machine rigidity and the addition of twin-servo wire tension control giving some 35 per cent reduction of mechanical parts, are all key factors to improve performance of the latest top-selling Fanuc wire EDM range Available from 600 Centre of Shepshed near Loughborough, the Fanuc 'D' series of Robocut Alpha i wire EDM can be specified in a compact 370 mm by 270 mm in X and Y axis strokes or 600 mm by 400 mm respectively and in three types: Fine Wire and Standard with a separate lower cost production machine version introduced without automated wirefeed
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Wire EDM machine uprated to cut quicker
Fanuc has extended the capacity, specification and performance of its Robocut Alpha-1iA wire cut electro discharge machine (EDM) to provide high accuracy performance cutting at up to 300mm2/min.
EDM uses 0.03mm wire to do small radii
A minimum radius of just 0.03mm in material up to 20mm thick can now be profiled on the Fanuc Robocut Alpha-OiA wire EDM using standard brass, piano or tungsten wire of just 0.05mm diameter.
In each version, the latest Fanuc FS 310 is/WA control with 15 inch LCD screen and touch panel provide easy to use twin-screen display giving an individual scaling mode around the wire position.
It also has the capability to be programmed on the screen at a rate some 10 times faster than the previous C-Series machine.
Also included in the development of the latest control is the ability of the wire position cursor to automatically follow the machining path.
Further reading
Wire EDMs improves metal cutting efficiency
The acquisition of two Fanuc Robocut Alpha wire EDM machines has paid major dividends for Gateshead based Omega Plastics UK.
Upgraded wire EDM boosts cutting rates, accuracy
The capacity, specification and performance of a wire EDM has been upgraded to achieve cutting rates of up to 330mm2/min and perform a wire feed inside 15 sec as well as improving accuracy.
A special OiD version can also be specified with five-axis simultaneous control, working in conjunction with a touch trigger probe that provides a fully automated process ideal for cutting polycrystalline diamond tooling.
Fanuc has completely redesigned its casting structure for the new machine with a large bed that eliminates any table overhang and creates a working structure some 40 per cent more rigid than the model it replaces.
With the enlarged capacity in X and Y, the maximum workpiece size is increased to 700 mm by 600 mm with the Robocut Alpha OiD and 1050 mm by 820 mm with the larger liD machine.
An automatic drop-down door gives improved access to the working area.
By adopting a twin-servo wire tension control, any variation in wire tension is reduced to a quarter of the previous machine design and precise control is maintained over the wire diameter that can range from 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm.
With the number of mechanical parts reduced by 35 per cent, a very simple wire feed system is created requiring lower maintenance attention.
Fanuc has also incorporated servo control over dielectric fluid levels enabling optimised cutting to be maintained for different thickness of workpiece.
The level of fluid automatically follows the Z-axis position over the 255 mm stroke on the OiD and 310/410 mm on the larger IiD machine.
By incorporating a new design of automatic wire feed based on an air jet, operational time is reduced to 10 secs saving some 16 per cent from the previous machine wire re-feed time.
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