Product category:
EDM wire and diesinking, miscellaneous equipment
News Release from: System 3R (UK) | Subject: 'Ready-to-Run' premounted electrodes
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 10 March 2003
Premounted EDM electrodes cut downtimes
By standardising on 'ready-to-run' premounted electrodes for EDM throughout its toolroom a mould and diemaker has cut lead times and machine downtimes.
" We've cut lead times and machine downtime by standardising on 'Ready-to-Run' premounted electrodes from System 3R throughout our toolroom," said Stuart Harding, M.D of Triform Tools, High Wycombe
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 29 Aug 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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" There used to be one man totally devoted to blocking-up electrodes before 'Ready-to-Run' became available.
It took time to cut copper to length and then drill and mount the blank onto a holder.
Now we just take a suitable size 'Ready-to-Run' blank from stock and can start machining instantly.
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Fast retooling with fixed references on the machine table are provided by a machine-independent reference system, which increases productivity and a highly flexible production system.
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Machines are no longer idly waiting for tooling.
It's so quick and easy and at around GBP 10 each they are excellent value-for-money!" 'Ready-to-Run' electrodes from System 3R are factory-mounted copper or graphite blanks in a range of sizes and lengths that are robustly mounted on a 'coin' that in turn locates into a 3R Macro holder.
This then delivers continuous accuracy throughout the production of the final electrode, however many machining processes it has to go through.
It also provides the protective carrier medium when a number of electrodes are loaded into an automatic toolchanger for 'lights out' production.
All electrodes are designed by one of their 5 CADCAM specialists in-house, so that the entire production process is under Triform's total control.
This was especially important to Triform Moulds when they recently purchased a new Charmilles Roboform 35 spark erosion machine.
System 3R toolholding was specified on the purchase and it therefore came fitted with the compatible 3R chuck, pallets and other tooling.
Triform Moulds recently completed an 8 cavity tool which required the use of 16 different electrodes and were able to achieve 246 continuous unmanned production hours in order to complete the job on time and to the required high quality standard, evidenced by the company's ISO 9001 accreditation.
Triform Moulds are not afraid to invest in the latest equipment and Stuart Harding sees automation as the key to maintaining future competitiveness.
In a difficult market, companies are looking to the Far East for low-cost tools without too much thought about quality and rejects.
However, when lead times are under pressure throughout the whole supply chain our achievement of increased productivity and consistent high quality through standardising on System 3R tooling, for example, is really paying off." Other advantages that 'Ready-to-Run' give to Triform are that they can re-machine used electrodes to form new ones, so they no longer have to keep huge stocks in case the job needs re-running in the future.
New ones can be machined simply by calling-up the relevant CNC program.
Triform Moulds, established in 1984, are highly respected for their expertise in producing intricate mould tools up to 3 tonnes.
They serve a wide range of industries including automotive, medical, cosmetics, aerospace and electrical white goods.
Operating on two sites in High Wycombe, the 40 strong company also provides a repair and refurbishment service.
Their toolroom includes 6 CNC 'sparkers' and 3 wirecut EDM machines, together with a high-speed Mikron machining centre and a comprehensive range of other milling, grinding and turning machines to give their customers the widest combination of production processes.
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