Product category:
EDM wire cutting
News Release from: Sodi-Tech edm | Subject: 'Hybrid Wire Machine'
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 November 2007
Wire-EDM plus water jet equals faster
cutting
To provide even faster cutting speeds than are currently possible with wire-EDM, the process has been combined with water jet cutting in one machine to increase speeds.
To raise the cutting speeds in wire-EDM machine tools, Sodick has combined process development with the Flow International Corporation (FIC) to develop a wire-EDM/water jet cutting technology The result was shown by Sodick at the EMO 2007 show, where manufacturingtalk.com saw the 'Hybrid Wire Machine'
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Sodick said it was not easy to develop such a system, but the result is a machine that will cut 20 times faster when comapred with unassisted wire-EDM.
What helped the development was Sodick's experience with linear motor drive technology coupled with FIC's water jet machine tool and process knowledge.
The result, said Sodick, is a hybrid machine operating with faster cutting speeds, higher accuracy and improved quality.
Advantages of combining wire-EDM and water jet cutting are as follows.
* Waterjet rough first cut 20 times faster than using wire-cutting.
* Initial hole cutting and disposal of core an automation-ready system.
* Applicable for: waterjet cutting only: for insulated materials, wire cutting only: for ultra-high precision and/or thick materials, or combined waterjet/wire-cutting: ultra high speed cutting by waterjet finished by wire EDM.
* Compact machine footprint.
* Environmental benefit - no graphite particle diffusion.
Specification for wire-EDM portion is as follows.
* Travel(X-, Y-, Z-axis): 550 x 350 x 250mm.
* U- and V-axis: 550 x 350mm.
* Taper cutting (for 150mm T): +/-30 deg.
* Wire electrode diameter: 0.15mm-0.3mm.
* Maximum wire spool: 20kg.
* Maximum wire feed speed: 420mm/s.
Specification for water jet cutting is as follows.
* Travel(X-, Y-, Z-axis): 550 x 350 x 250mm.
* A/B-axis control angle: +/-8 deg.
* High pressure flushing power: 380MPa.
Specification for Hybrid Wire EDM/water jet cutting is as follows.
* Maximum work-piece dimensions: 750 x 550 x 200mm (hen the Hybrid machining, Waterjet machining: workpiece height 40mm).
* Maximum work-piece weight: 700kg.
* Distance between floor and table top: 1050mm.
* Machine body dimensions: 3885 x 4745 x 2500mm.
* Machine floor space (excluding maintenance space): 3900 x 5300mm.
* Machining fluid: ionised water.
* Air supply: 450litres/min.
* Fluid filtering method: replaceable paper filter.
* Fluid cooling method: cooling unit.
* Service tank capacity: 2,200 litres.
*1 When the Hybrid machining, Waterjet machining: 40mm.
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