|
Please visit Sodick booth at JIMTOF (November 1-8), Big site, Tokyo to find a new technology.
Sodick booth : East Hall No.2 (E2002).
The next generation Hybrid Wire EDM, which enables 3 times faster cutting speed than before
Sodick announced that they will start receiving orders for "Hybrid Wire EDM" which is a completely new model and drastically improves the cutting speed of Wire EDM. Lately many contradicting requests have been reaching us from users to improve, "speed, accuracy and quality" at the same time. The cutting speed by Wire EDM has been 500mm2/min at maximum, which all EDM manufacturers are striving to improve. Under these circumstances, Sodick was under development to improve the wire cutting speed dramatically, in a different method from the conventional way.
 "Hybrid Wire EDM" announced this time is a new generation hybrid machine to satisfy both "ultra-high-precision machining" possible with Wire EDM and "High-speed machining" possible with Waterjet cutting. To achieve the development, a joint partnership was made with the world largest waterjet manufacturer, "Flow International Corporation" with its head office in Seattle, USA.
Sodick has been involved in assisting the manufacturing of molds and precision parts. With this new type of Wire EDM, we are more confident that electrical machining will increase in demand to satisfy both high-speed and high-precision machining in the future, and the manufacturing situation will change.
First of all, this hybrid wire EDM will be exhibited at the coming IMTS show, "IMTS 2006." The machine will be ready to receive orders at the end of this year, for the first production amount, 5 units a month. This amount will expectedly increase to 5~10 units/month depending on market growth.
 Main Features:
1) The World's First!
Wire EDM and Waterjet are combined into a single Hybrid Wire EDM
2) Rough cutting speed(1st cut) by waterjet is dramatically 70~100 times faster than wire-cutting.
3) Initial hole cutting and disposal of core are performed and ready for automated operation.
4) This hybrid Wire EDM can be applied for 3 different requirements, such as waterjet cutting only, wire cutting only or combined machining with waterjet and wire-cutting.
5) Combined hybrid machine can be installed at the small site.
6) Graphite cutting does not diffuse particles which is good for ecology.
Explanation in details:
1) The World's First!!
Hybrid Wire EDM is completed with 2 separate functions on a single machine, Wire EDM and Waterjet.
Combining 2 separate machine tools is extremely difficult. However, Sodick could successfully complete hybrid wire EDM rather easily with linear motor drive technology already developed.
2) Rough cutting(1st cut) by waterjet enables dramatic 70~100 times faster than conventional method.
An abrasive waterjet is most common, which uses abrasives in the water fluid. "Hyrbrid Wire EDM" uses abrasives as well. The feature for this Hybrid Wire EDM is the "ultra-high-speed cutting". Graphite material, which is usually cut by wire EDM, can be cut at the speed of 70~100 times faster than the Wire EDM in 1st the rough cutting, which is "10,000mm2/min"(about 200mm/min for 50mm thick, about 70~100 times faster than wire EDM). The standard material for mold and die is SKD11(58 HRC) can be cut at 1,400mm2/min(94 mm/min for 15 mm thick)
 3) Initial hole cutting as well as core disposal for press molds is performed and easily ready for automated operation.
The initial hole cutting, impossible on Wire EDM, which used to be cut on a separate machine, can be handled on this Hybrid Wire EDM. Furthermore, the core, produced during transfer-press manufacturing, naturally drops. This also helps prepare automated operation. In short, once a hardened steel plate is set on a "Hybrid Wire EDM", all the machining from initial hole cutting, core handling and finish cutting are performed automatically without human interruption.
4) Depending on the requirements, either waterjet cutting, wire cutting or combined cutting can be selected
*Ultra-high-speed cutting by waterjet only for insulated materials
*Ultra-high-precision and thick material can be cut by the wire EDM
*Ultra-high-speed cutting by waterjet and finishing by the Wire EDM method enable various machining for all kinds of purposes.
5) Small Floor Space for the Hybrid Wire EDM
Two separate machines used to be required for waterjet cutting and wire cutting in the past, which needed a large installation floor space. But this Hybrid Wire EDM reduces the floor space largely.
6) Ecologically ideal machine, since graphite cutting does not diffuse chips.
Both waterjet cutting and wire cutting use water fluid in Hybrid Wire EDM, graphite chips does not diffuse. This is good for ecology.
Main Spec.:
Wire portion:
 Travel(X, Y, Z axis) : 550 x 350 x 250 mm
Ux V axis : 570 x 370 mm
Taper cutting(for 150 mm T) : ±30°
Wire electrode diameter : 0.15~0.3mm
Max wire spool : 20 kg
Max. wire feed speed : 420 mm/sec
Waterjet:
Travel(X, Y, Z axis) : 570 x 370 x 250 mm
A/B axis control angle : ±10°
High pressure flushing power : 380Mpa
Hybrid Wire:
Max. workpiece dimensions : 750 x 500 x 250 mm
Max. workpiece weight : 1000 kg
Distance between floor to table top : 1250 mm
Machine body dimensions : 2920 x 3240 x 2500 mm
Machine floor space(excluding maintenance space) : 3000 x 5100 mm
Machining fluid : Ionized water
Air supply : 450l/min
Fluid filtering method : Replaceable paper filter
Fluid cooling method : Cooling unit
Service tank capacity : 2700 L
Hybrid Wire EDM
 If you would like to know more about this The World's First Hybrid Wire EDM,
please contact following;
Mr. Masahiro Imazu
Sales Engineering Department
Te: 81-45-941-2222
e-mail:imazu@sodick.co.jp |
Sodick Co., Ltd.
12-1, 3-chome, Nakamachidai,
Yokohama City, Japan
Tel : 045-941-2222
http://www.sodick.jp
|
