The electrical discharge machine is one of the essential tools for the plastic mould manufacturing, die casting tooling and metal stamping industries. The days of a “black art” approach to using EDM are a thing of the past.
Today, with an automatic tool changer, pallet changer, precision EDM tooling, CMM, and a lot of planning, it is quite possible to run the department 24/7. By integrating these various tools in the manufacturing process automatically, the China mold Company or any of plastic mold companies can have complete control. This greatly helps with producing precision mold components and die components in a timely manner.
The initial cost outlay is rather high, and a steady flow of work is required to justify the investment. However, with rising labor costs and an acute shortage of skilled help, the cost becomes more reasonable.
Leading companies
Makino's EDGE2S EDM is a good example of using an integrated approach to mould and die manufacture. Sodick EDM and Charmilles-Agie are two other leading companies in the manufacturing cell concept. Sodick's C32 claims to be the world's most affordable EDM and can be a good way to get started. Charmilles-Agie has the Form 1000 as a world leader for high precision manufacturing of mould, die and medical components. The Robofil is an industry standard for WEDM.
All of these machines can be integrated to use the automatic tool changer, precision tooling, pallet changer and coordinate measuring machine. System 3R and Erowa both have a complete line of tools to make this possible.
System 3R has their Work Partner 2, which is a compact unit for pallet changing, both on the machine table and in the machine spindle. They also have an extensive catalog of pallets, magnetic chucks, electrode holders and just about anything imaginable, related to the electrical discharge machine.
Erowa has their Robot Dynamic automatic tool changer/pallet changer that is modular in design. This is a great way to begin because you can add more equipment as you need it.
How far we have come
Only a few years ago, if you were to walk into a typical American toolmaking shop, you would find several Eltee Pulsitron EDM machines. These were great in their day, very efficient and accurate, but they were a manual machine with very limited abilities.
Once the CNC EDM was developed and companies began thinking in terms of automation, the Eltee was relegated to the repair department, where it is still quite useful.
One mistake tool shops often make is to try and integrate their EDM department in a piecemeal fashion. So, they might go out and buy some System 3R pallets with a magnetic chuck, a small fork lift to move the pallets around, and think that it is going to work. It will not. The entire process must be looked at as a whole and each phase must be connected to the others for the plan to work.
Some of the older facilities are very poorly laid out and this also inhibits the entire program. Nevertheless, by communicating with the suppliers and with the EDM operators who actually use this stuff, it can be done very successfully.
Wire EDM machine
The WEDM can also be included in the entire process chinese injection molding. Tools and workpieces can be pre-staged for automatic loading into the machine.
Today, with an automatic tool changer, pallet changer, precision EDM tooling, CMM, and a lot of planning, it is quite possible to run the department 24/7. By integrating these various tools in the manufacturing process automatically, the China mold Company or any of plastic mold companies can have complete control. This greatly helps with producing precision mold components and die components in a timely manner.
The initial cost outlay is rather high, and a steady flow of work is required to justify the investment. However, with rising labor costs and an acute shortage of skilled help, the cost becomes more reasonable.
Leading companies
Makino's EDGE2S EDM is a good example of using an integrated approach to mould and die manufacture. Sodick EDM and Charmilles-Agie are two other leading companies in the manufacturing cell concept. Sodick's C32 claims to be the world's most affordable EDM and can be a good way to get started. Charmilles-Agie has the Form 1000 as a world leader for high precision manufacturing of mould, die and medical components. The Robofil is an industry standard for WEDM.
All of these machines can be integrated to use the automatic tool changer, precision tooling, pallet changer and coordinate measuring machine. System 3R and Erowa both have a complete line of tools to make this possible.
System 3R has their Work Partner 2, which is a compact unit for pallet changing, both on the machine table and in the machine spindle. They also have an extensive catalog of pallets, magnetic chucks, electrode holders and just about anything imaginable, related to the electrical discharge machine.
Erowa has their Robot Dynamic automatic tool changer/pallet changer that is modular in design. This is a great way to begin because you can add more equipment as you need it.
How far we have come
Only a few years ago, if you were to walk into a typical American toolmaking shop, you would find several Eltee Pulsitron EDM machines. These were great in their day, very efficient and accurate, but they were a manual machine with very limited abilities.
Once the CNC EDM was developed and companies began thinking in terms of automation, the Eltee was relegated to the repair department, where it is still quite useful.
One mistake tool shops often make is to try and integrate their EDM department in a piecemeal fashion. So, they might go out and buy some System 3R pallets with a magnetic chuck, a small fork lift to move the pallets around, and think that it is going to work. It will not. The entire process must be looked at as a whole and each phase must be connected to the others for the plan to work.
Some of the older facilities are very poorly laid out and this also inhibits the entire program. Nevertheless, by communicating with the suppliers and with the EDM operators who actually use this stuff, it can be done very successfully.
Wire EDM machine
The WEDM can also be included in the entire process chinese injection molding. Tools and workpieces can be pre-staged for automatic loading into the machine.
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