Betterbrass, the next-generation brass alloy wire launched recently in the UK by Erodex, has helped users to increase cutting speed by up to 10% in early trials. Manufactured in Germany by Bedra (Berkenhoff), Betterbrass benefits from novel alloy and casting technology, along with a specially developed annealing process. The wire is plug-and-play on all machine types.

“Since its launch, the Betterbrass wire range has received a positive response from customer trials, meaning that we can now provide EDM subcontractors with a cost-effective step up from standard brass wire,” explains Josh Bye, sales engineer at Erodex UK. “As UK industry starts to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were keen to introduce a cost-effective wire to the market that facilitates increased performance. Customers will save money by using the wire, as any increase in wire speed ultimately means less wire consumption.”

Luke Hobbs, director of HLP Engineering Solutions in Halesowen, has experienced first-hand the benefits of using both the Gapstar and Betterbrass ranges from Erodex.

“Simply put, Gapstar is the best wire we have ever used on our Sodick machines from a performance and speed perspective,” he says. “We find it ideal for cutting punches and other long-running jobs. However, we found that Betterbrass is excellent on threading and, for the small increase in the cost of the wire, offers decent speed improvement of around 10-12% over standard brass wire using the same settings. When the job dictates, we will certainly use this wire again.”

For further information
www.erodex.com

GF Machining Solutions says that its new Automatic Slug Management (ASM) makes true uninterrupted and unmanned wire EDM operations a reality.

Left to their own devices, slugs will fall on to the lower head of an EDM machine. This effect can cause a crash or trigger alerts that cause the machine to stop. To aid prevention, CAM programs include ‘tabs’ to keep the slug connected to the workpiece during machining operations. Once completed, operators remove the tabs and slugs, but such manual intervention prevents true unmanned operation. At best, manufacturers can achieve rough cutting of parts overnight, but will need to wait until operators are available to remove the slugs and run trim and finishing passes.

With ASM, manufacturers can machine parts (roughing and finishing) overnight, and the technology is particularly suited to die-stamping applications and other small cavity operations. The process begins with a complete roughing pass that leaves no welds or tabs but sees the machine’s lower head prevent the slug falling into the tank while a device retrofitted to the upper head descends; this blows high-pressure air over the slug, which creates suction and allows the slug to be pulled from the part and deposited away from the machine.

Although ASM is slower than the manual alternative, the fact that it requires no human intervention means that manufacturers can load up machines at night with raw material and return the next morning to completed components.

For further information
www.gfms.com

The latest range of ONA’s die-sink EDM has a graphical interface with more intuitive and visually friendly menus.

In short, the QX Neo enables a 3D view of the entire machining process. As well as showing the part and letting the user manipulate it easily thanks to its tactile technology, the equipment includes a control that ONA says has never been seen before in die-sink EDM. This control makes it possible to view the part to be eroded on the screen, as well as the electrodes and their travels. As a result, it is possible to view the complete EDM process, select electrodes and even modify machining sequences quickly and easily with a simple touch before running the program.
The new range improves the control of the equipment and its usability through the optimisation of the HMI, drastically reducing the possibility of programming errors. Features include: a high-quality 24-inch screen; intuitive programming supported by graphics help; improved environment for programming and simulation; and graphic interaction throughout the process – digital programming from the solid to the part. Further functions include the verification of electrode position, travels, machining order and job list.

QX Neo also makes it possible to import the files directly from CADCAM, as well as to access and run the programs located in another computer.
The ONA Security Pack guarantees protection of the customer’s sensitive information. This system enables the creation of a machine administrator, the set-up of different access profiles, the limitation of file deletion or modification, the blocking of external accesses, and a log of power-on and working hours.

For further information
www.onaedm.com

The Teisnach facility of Rohde & Schwarz, a specialist in electromechanical assemblies, has installed two Mitsubishi Electric EDM machines from the MP Connect series to help boost the precision production activities of the plant’s tool-making department. Covering more than 74,000 sq m, the Teisnach plant is home to 1850 skilled workers and is considered the tool-making centre for the group.

Says Andreas Bauer, head of toolmaking: “To maintain a high degree of flexibility, we’re constantly reorganising our operations. This is also a reason why we keep tool making here a little separate and autonomous.”

Five wire EDM machines are in operation in the tool shop at Teisnach, mainly in the production of punching, bending and extrusion tools. The two new Mitsubishi Electric MP1200 Connect and MP2400 Connect machines are used mainly for stamping and bending tools.

“Using these two precision machines we can operate with high process security, while they also give us the required flexibility,” says Bauer. “Last year we decided to make a change in our wire EDM machines. We took a close look at the main suppliers and drew up a requirements profile with our entire team.”

All the pros and cons – as well as the sustainability issues – were examined. The price-performance ratio was also a crucial factor. Rohde & Schwarz paid visits to users and compared the technical data until the company was convinced that Mitsubishi would be able to supply the market’s best machines.

“We drafted our 2027 tool-making strategy back in 2017,” Bauer reports. “Last year we took the first big step and invested around €2m, among other things in the two Mitsubishi systems. In doing so, we gave new impetus to micro-erosion, micro-milling and micro-drilling.”

For further information
www.mitsubishi-edm.de

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and associated protective measures, almost all planned customer training courses at Walter have had to be cancelled.

The company, which specialises in grinding and erosion machines for cutting-tool manufacture, is now reacting with an alternative programme that offers some of its customer training courses online as interactive live webinars. In the past weeks, the first online training day took place – a customer-specific basic and advanced course on the principles of program creation in Walter’s measuring software.

The trainer, equipped with a headset and an additional camera, stands in the machine demonstration room at Walter’s headquarters in Tübingen and speaks into a laptop. On the other side, customer employees are sitting in a separate room, all looking into their laptops at the same time. This is how some customer training courses at Walter currently look.

The participants of this particular course learn the exact procedure to measure a tool correctly with the software. In the basic training course, participants gain machine knowledge that they can use to expand their skills in practice day-by-day, while the advanced training course is aimed at participants who already have initial experience or some knowledge. In both courses, Walter teaches the customer efficient program creation in order to reduce unnecessary programming and program run times.

Walter’s online offer is an efficient supplement that the company will expand in the future. Online training from Walter not only saves travel expenses for the customer, but also valuable time, as employees can return to their normal tasks immediately afterwards.

For further information
www.walter-machines.com