Although Friedrich Daniels Medical GmbH only opened for business in Aldingen, Germany in spring 2019, more than 20 machines are already in operation, including those for turning, milling, drilling, grinding and EDM. The company’s founders, Robert Keller and Andreas Wenzler, see themselves well equipped to act as full-range suppliers of medical instruments.

The company focuses mainly on instruments for surgical procedures and orthopaedic treatment of the spine. As a specialist in machining and, specifically, in EDM processes, Keller uses his knowledge to ensure that the company can also cost-effectively manufacture difficult components for medical instruments, at high rates of productivity.
Keller regards the wire EDM production process as one of the business’s essential core competences: “EDM is the only way to produce the intricate and sometimes complex contours required, especially for components used in medical instruments and accessories. This also applies particularly to the corrosion-resistant and high-tensile steel alloys used in medical technology.”
At Friedrich Daniels Medical GmbH, Keller was the driving force behind the acquisition of a Mitsubishi Electric MV1200S NewGen wire EDM with D-Cubes CNC control. The programmers and machine operators took only a short time to familiarise themselves with the technology, reports Keller. Notably, the app-like operating and programming interface on the touchscreen is much appreciated, particularly by younger professionals who are already familiar with this operating philosophy from their smartphones and tablet PCs.
“However, it is also possible to select the user interface of the previous Advance Plus control system, which allows the MV1200S NewGen to operate very flexibly,” says Keller. “The fourth, rotary axis also contributes to flexible use, enabling the machine to fully produce all conceivable geometrical details on a workpiece in several planes.”
For further information www.mitsubishi-edm.de

New from Erodex, a specialist in the provision of EDM wire, wear parts and other EDM consumables, is an EDM wire that the company describes as the fastest available in the UK: Gapstar ONE. Working in partnership with Berkenhoff in Germany, the wire will enable users to achieve higher levels of cutting performance across a range of applications.

Brendan Kelly, technical sales engineer at Erodex UK, says: “We are excited about this new wire and how it can benefit the UK market. As well as increasing speeds by 40-60% compared with standard brass wire, and typically 10% compared to our boline H product, users will also see a significant increase in feed rates. This gain is achieved in both rough and skim cuts, without necessarily adjusting current settings. A further benefit is less wear of wire guides and power contacts, reducing downtime and, ultimately, cost. Thanks to Berkenhoff’s newly developed TRIMPAC coating, 0.25 Ra can be expected, as well as increased stiffness and straightness for automatic threading.”
Available from stock in tensile strengths of 900 and 500 N, Gapstar ONE is compatible with all brands of machines and comes in most spool sizes.
Says Kelly: “As with its predecessors, although Gapstar ONE is more expensive than brass wire, dramatically increased wire speeds and its ability to achieve the desired surface finish means more throughput and greater efficiencies. Users can expect savings of up to 40% compared with the topas plus H 2.0® range, for example. Simply using Gapstar ONE will enable these benefits to be realised, but we are also able to work with customers to optimise their machine settings and generate even better results.”
For further information www.erodex.com