Wire EDM upgrade: fit for the future

A series of upgrades for GF Machining Solutions’ wire EDM machines will future-proof their performance, says the company. The upgrades relate to the CUT C, E and P wire EDM ranges, increasing their productivity, functionality, autonomy and process reliability.

For instance, with the Turbo Tech upgrade, customers can improve their processes and achieve higher quality and productivity. By applying the upgrade, the machine is provided with an additional technology priorities option – a compromise between speed and accuracy – in good or bad flushing conditions. Productivity can increase from 10% to 40%, depending on the geometry of the part and the flushing conditions experienced.

If customers need additional functionality they can enhance their machines with the Taper Expert upgrade (pictured), which enables the machining of large taper parts.

Customers can also increase the autonomy of their machines. One example is the big spool upgrade (up to 25 kg wire), which ensures longer process continuity with no need for constant wire changes.

In addition, users can take advantage of GF Machining Solutions’ rConnect platform, which comprises three digital services: rConnect Customer Cockpit, rConnect Live Remote Assistance and rConnect Messenger. With the ultra-secure hotline, rConnect Live Remote Assistance, customers benefit from the personal support of GF Machining Solutions’ qualified experts, while the rConnect Messenger app allows them to gain remote access to their machines and receive status updates on their mobile devices.

Thanks to the recently developed Seamless Support, a new module in Live Remote Assistance, customers are able to generate their service requests or ask questions about applications directly from their control system.
For further information www.gfms.com/uk

Rafael acquires Pearson Engineering

Israel-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has completed the acquisition of Pearson Engineering, located in Newcastle, UK. The purchase was executed under a stock purchase agreement (SPA), transferring 100% of the ownership. As a point of note, the acquisition includes Pearson’s subsidiary company Responsive Engineering. Rafael is a world-renowned defence contractor. The company is Israel’s third largest defence company with over 8000 employees and more than 30 worldwide subsidiaries serving the defence, security and aerospace markets.
For further information www.pearson-eng.com

CGTech appoints sales engineer for Sweden

To support ambitious plans for growth within overseas markets, CGTech has appointed a direct sales engineer in Sweden. Svante Eriksson joined the company on 10 October, tasked with growing the Vericut user base and supporting existing customers in the Swedish market. Based in Trollhättan, Eriksson used Vericut CNC simulation, verification and optimisation software for more than 15 years in his previous role. Gavin Powell, CGTech Ltd’s managing director, says: “This is the first time CGTech Ltd has employed a sales engineer within Sweden, which is testament to the company’s positive growth plans.”
For further information www.cgtech.co.uk

Dedicated Mazak website for Portuguese customers

Mazak has strengthened its commitment to Portuguese customers with the launch of a dedicated website for its sales and service operation. In 2020, the company created a dedicated sales and service channel for the Portuguese market, to work alongside its long-time distributor, Normil. The new website intends to raise awareness of the machine tool manufacturer’s capabilities in the country and offer an easy-access resource for further information. The website has focus areas for Integrex multi-tasking machines, five-axis machining, turning, VMCs, horizontal machines, laser cutting, automation and CNC systems.
For further information www.mazakeu.pt

Operators can press play and walk away

As a design, development, test and production facility for additively manufactured (AM) products, Alloyed Ltd recently encountered challenges with its supporting EDM machining processes. The Stone-based business therefore turned to the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) and its Mitsubishi EDM range of machines.

With a complete suite of Renishaw metal additive machines, one area that was causing a bottleneck at Alloyed was an unreliable wire EDM machine used for removing parts from base plates following 3D printing. With the company’s existing EDM machine, issues included constant wire breakages and the resultant manual re-threading, unreliable wire performance, water tank leakages, and a G-code programming CNC interface that was difficult to operate and integrate with other technologies on-site.

The search for a new EDM solution was already underway when Dr Stephen McCain, machine and systems manager at Alloyed, got engaged in the process. “With an opportunity to manufacture titanium 64 AM parts on a production scale, we started asking subcontract manufacturers with wire EDM capacity to see if they could cut details on the thin-walled parts, as well as cut them from the base blocks,” he says. “Speaking to subcontractors with a wide array of EDM technology who were floundering with the intricacies of the part, we quickly realised what machines were incapable of meeting our needs. We found the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) and their Mitsubishi EDM solutions; their experts provided us with a solution to meet all of our needs.”

The Mitsubishi MV2400S Type II wire EDM was identified as the perfect choice for the business. It incorporates Mitsubishi’s intuitive AD series CADCAM system – a feature that has instantly slashed programming times. Alloyed claims that programming each job is now more than 75% faster than the previous wire EDM machine.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com