Product category:
EDM wire cutting
News Release from: Warwick Machine Tools | Subject: KE Series of wire-cut, electric discharge machines
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 February 2003
Wire EDMs can cut wide and deep tapers
These EDM machines are believed to be the first on the market to cut taper angles, in submerged mode, up to +/-30 degrees over the full X and Y axes.
The new KE Series of wire-cut, electric discharge machining (EDM) machines from ONA, Spain, is the first on the market to cut taper angles in submerged mode up to +/-30 degrees over the full X and Y axes The result is the ability to manufacture large, complex tools and dies using a machine of relatively small footprint, combined with higher productivity due to full immersion of the workpiece in the deionised water dielectric
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 15 Oct 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Available in the UK through sole agent, Warwick Machine Tools, the range of four, high accuracy machines offers X/Y/Z/U/V travels from 550/350/400/140/140mm to 1500/1000/600/500/500mm.
All five axes can be interpolated simultaneously by the CNC system.
The largest machine will cut to a height of 400 mm at the maximum taper angle.
Further reading
Ram-type EDMs improve productivity and finish
Mouldmakers will see a considerable improvement in productivity and quality of surface finish attainable with a new range of ram-type electric discharge machining equipment.
Wire EDMs cut complex shapes unmanned
Investment in two wire EDM machines allows a mould and die maker to profile complicated shapes quickly and accurately in virtually any material over long periods unmanned.
All machines in the series are of fixed bed design, allowing heavy workpieces to be supported on the table - up to three tonnes for the smallest KE350 and 10 tonnes for the largest KE1000.
Long periods of reliable, unattended machining are made possible by three innovations.
First, there is a patented, automatic wire threading system built in, able to handle a wide spread of wire types and diameters in the range 0.1 to 0.35mm.
The use of annealed brass wire results in a very high rethreading success rate.
Secondly, a wire spool with a generous 45kg capacity is standard on all KE models.
Thirdly, a so-called 'Expert Erosion' system controls the cutting process automatically, continuously modifying the programmed parameters of the power supply to optimise machine performance.
This is especially important when eroding complicated shapes or wide taper angles to maximise cutting speed without breaking the wire.
Program generation has been largely automated by ONA software that provides built-in wire erosion knowledge, allowing even novice users to produce complex components.
Based on the input of such fundamental information as workpiece material and thickness, wire type, and levels of dimensional accuracy and surface finish required, the CADCAM system analyses the data and suggests erosion parameters and recommended number of re-runs.
These may be edited by the user according to the level of his or her experience, after which the system generates the program and displays it on screen.
Worthy also of mention are the consumable-less filtration of the dielectric, saving the cost of replaceable filters (another ONA patent); and the Ethernet-enabled CNC system that allows KE machines to be incorporated into a local area network, and to be monitored remotely using a PC or mobile telephone.
(This was Manufacturingtalk's Top Story on 11 February 2003).
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