Product category:
EDM diesinking
News Release from: Sodi-Tech edm | Subject: Sodick Premium AP1L die sink EDM
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 September 2006
Medical multi-cavity dies machined by
EDM
Supplying single and multiple cavity tooling for the injection moulding machines is a 'groundbreaking' die sink EDM, installed in a UK medical and technical moulder, producing mcro-moulds.
Sovrin Plastics, the Slough-based medical and technical moulder and specialist in the manufacture of micro moulds and micro precision injection moulded components, has become the first UK user of the new Sodick Premium AP1L die sink EDM - only the second machine of its type to be installed in Europe Sovrin Plastics is a company dedicated to excellence in the manufacture of high quality mould tools and the precision injection moulding of thermoplastics, offering its blue-chip clients a single, fully integrated source for tooling, plastics injection moulding, cleanroom injection moulding, micro moulding, assembly, and printing requirements, moving from concept through prototyping and into high volume production
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
High-speed CNC miller offers precision
High-accuracy, high-speed milling machine is appropriate for mould and die applications, which call for maximum precision and surface quality.
Automatic EDM wire feed system cuts lead times
The high-speed, sensor-controlled, automatic wire feed system on its latest wire EDM is really reducing lead times for multi-aperture work at a spring maker.
The company has a proven track record in the design, development and manufacture of successful products ranging from drug delivery devices to electro-mechanical assemblies and has attracted a diverse customer base of blue-chip organisations.
With impressive facilities, including six Class 7 (10,000) cleanrooms (1600m2), technical plastic injection moulding and state-of-the-art CAD/CAM and CNC tooling divisions, the company has extensive experience and equipment for the provision of micro-mouldings, for which it has found an increasing demand in the medical, pharmaceutical, Telecommunications and Electronics industries for micro-precision components in thermoplastics.
A micro-moulding cell has been designed specifically for producing the smallest components, typically with component weights below 0.25g and down into single figures of milligrams.
Further reading
Latest, reliable EDM wins orders for young subby
Though established for less than a year a young EDM subby already has a full order book for a wide range of EDM work, from aerospace, automotive and plastics injection moulding sectors.
Wire EDM brings work back in-house
World's leading manufacturer of umbrella frames, has recently invested in its first EDM wire erosion machine to bring sub-contract work in-house and change production methods.
Machines keep mouldmaker "out of the bear pit"
By understanding and supplying tooling for two material injection moulding, and buying the latest EDM kit, has helped a mouldmaker keep "out of the bear pit of run-of-the-mill toolmaking".
Supplying single and multiple cavity tooling for the injection moulding machines is the new groundbreaking Sodick Premium AP1L die sink EDM, installed in January, 2006.
"We selected the machine after extensive trials at Sodi-Tech in the UK and at Sodick's headquarters in Japan," said Sovrin's founder and managing director, Peter Joiner.
"One such trial demanded the creation of various pin-gates measuring between 0.1 and 0.15mm in diameter - the way the Sodick machine handled the task was excellent.
Other tests showed that electrode wear was also significantly reduced, in one instance to 0.005mm." Sovrin's new machine had to be capable of producing very fine feature work at close tolerances.
Micro mouldings typically weigh below 0.10g, and down into single figures of milligrams in some instances.
The Sodick AP1l is capable of finishing cavities to a tolerance of plus or minus half a micron.
Many of the established conventions in mould manufacture no longer apply when dimensional details are expressed in microns.
Specialised machining techniques have been developed that include micro electrical discharge machining using machines such as Sodick's Premium AP1L.
This compact machine includes many new features, including a three-sided rise and fall drop tank and automation option, and builds on the technical excellence of the earlier standard AP1L, with its ceramic table, award-winning linear motors, glass scale positioning, SQ and SVC Super fine finish circuitry, Q3 vic solution onboard programming system (SolidWorks), in addition to Sodick's powerful 2D Heart NC onboard programming system and high precision indexing unit R-Head.
EDM contouring with the Premium AP1L provides die-sinking EDM with the dynamic response of linear technology and therefore offers many associated advantages: reduced electrode costs, electrode shape independent of cavity, accurate forms and shapes, and EDM direct milling of the cavity.
These in turn lead to reduced total EDM costs and reduced mould manufacture lead times.
"The toolchanger has made a world of difference to our toolroom operation," said Joiner.
"We can now set-up and leave jobs to run unattended overnight, achieving genuine 24h production.
The polished surface finish achieved is always 'first class'.
A less than perfect finish on a micro component would be disastrous as it would result in the need for post-process polishing that could erase feature definition and affect size.".
• Sodi-Tech edm: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
