FEATURE ON EDM

A&M EDM showcases engineering

Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, recently visited precision engineering company A&M EDM in Smethwick, West Midlands to understand what drives growth and the issues facing a manufacturing SME.

The Business Secretary met some of A&M’s current and recent apprentices, speaking to individuals about their motivation to take up an apprenticeship, the work they undertake and the skills they are developing by working with experienced engineers. All of A&M’s apprentices study for academic engineering qualifications at Dudley College.
Mark Wingfield, managing director of A&M EDM, said: “We had an informed discussion with the Business Secretary on how the Industrial Strategy can accelerate West Midlands manufacturing and A&M’s initiative to develop its own apprentices.”
Added Clark: “The Industrial Strategy for the West Midlands will harness its distinctive strengths to unlock greater growth and earning power across the region’s cities and towns.”
A&M showcased engines and components manufactured for aerospace and automotive customers. In addition, Clark saw a new high-speed CNC machining centre and handheld alloy analyser in action; these were part funded by a Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) grant to create new manufacturing jobs.
The Business Secretary discussed the practical implementation of the Industrial Strategy with senior representatives of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, Black Country LEP, Dudley College and the EEF.
A&M has grown from a two man start-up in 2002, to 67 staff and sales of over £6m in 2018. This has been achieved using EDM and CNC machining to design and manufacture precision components and tooling for a range of UK and international customers.
For further information www.amedm.co.uk

Mitsubishi adds spark to MACH

Mitsubishi Electric used the recent MACH 2018 as the platform to introduce its latest CNC control unit on the company’s established MV series of EDM machines. The Mitsubishi EDM stand at MACH was furnished with MV1200S and MV2400R machines.

Advanced technology and a new user interface can be a daunting prospect for any machine operator; Mitsubishi Electric has overcome this by offering both the new and established interface in a single control. With the flick of a switch, the new CNC interface can revert to either type.
The machine operator has a large screen monitor and modern gesture controls with a configurable interface that supports the user by allowing the main function elements to be freely arranged for daily work. Furthermore, the step-by-step dialogue guidance pilots less experienced operators through the entire process with checklists taking operators from programming through to machining.
Tailored to the needs of the end user, the interface has an easy-to-grasp display with all the machining parameters in configurable form to make everything visible. For scheduling, support is provided with an overview of remaining wire, filter cartridge state and other parameters. Complete documentation for the machine, including maintenance instructions and manuals, are integrated into the software with 3D diagrams and images also included to guide the user through every facet and process of the machine.
To put the user in charge of the Mitsubishi EDM machine at all times, the interface allows operators to monitor the machine portfolio from anywhere at any time. Powered by Teamviewer, customers can access their machines via mobile technology such as phones and tablets with direct status reports available
via email.
For further information www.mitsubishiedm.co.uk

EDM family offers improved software

The Form family of die-sink EDM machines from GF Machining Solutions features improved software and a range of technical innovations aimed at precision mould makers and component manufacturers. The series includes the AgieCharmilles Form X, Form S, Form P and Form E models.

Form machines provide customers with Econowatt technology to save energy, a variety of Industry 4.0-oriented connectivity features to help support the digital transformation of manufacturers, and e-Tracking software for EDM process monitoring and full traceability.
From faster rib machining to micro-machining, the AgieCharmilles Form family is the outcome of GF Machining Solutions’ continued investment in die-sink EDM research. The result is that AgieCharmilles Form series users are able to achieve better performance in machining with either graphite and/or copper electrodes, says the company.
Form series machines are said to allow for repeatable machining of micro-cavities, while on-board ‘iGAP’ technology guarantees the rigidity of injection-moulded plastic products featuring deep ribs. According to GFMS, the technology also ensures fast, accurate machining of rib cavities with respect to the required de-moulding taper and VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) homogeneity throughout the cavity surface.
Additionally, manufacturers can exploit the range’s eConnectivity features and MTConnect capability to stay informed of the machine’s status and machining process.
For further information www.gfms.com

MCC achieves rapid machining with Esprit

In choosing Esprit to write programs for its CNC wire EDM machines and grinders, Dallas-based MCC Tooling found a CAM system so user friendly that the owner’s young grandchildren sometimes use it. More importantly, Esprit’s programming is saving MCC Tooling time and money.

MCC Tooling makes and re-sharpens custom cutting tools, step drills, form tools and dovetail cutters, in quantities ranging from one-off to as many as 100 pieces, for customers in the oil, aerospace and medical industries. The 10-employee business today has a number of machine tools that include a Mitsubishi MV1200-R wire
EDM with B axis.
MCC Tooling began using Esprit in 1999, when it purchased its first wire EDM machine, a Mitsubishi FX 10.
“After hours of extensive research and vetting different programs and software, we felt Esprit would fit our needs and price range perfectly,” says the company’s founder Marcus Alexander. “Esprit is user-friendly, works seamlessly with our machines, and integrates well with SolidWorks. It’s so easy that my grandchildren have come here and programmed their own things for us to cut out for them.”
The software also allowed the company to get up to speed with the Mitsubishi MV1200-R, which was installed in 2013 to hold closer tolerances.
“One thing that helped us was being able to see the heads moving on the simulation in Esprit before running it on the EDM,” says Alexander. “This ensures we don’t waste time running an incorrect part and saves us money by not scrapping components.”
For further information www.espritcam.com

Erodex celebrates 20% growth

Erodex, a specialist in the provision of EDM supplies, graphites and graphite machining, is celebrating 20% growth over the past 12 months, following a period of substantial investment.

The company has invested a total of £1.75m in machinery and premises as part of an expansion strategy which has included record orders for a newly formed tool room and diversification in product ranges. The growth is the third year in a row that the company has set record levels for total revenue, and includes the company bolstering its workforce with an additional 17 employees.
Director Steve Rolinson says: “We are extremely pleased with the progress of the company over the past 12 months, not only with regard to the ongoing success of the new tool room following our investment in that, but also in increased market penetration for the provision of our graphite materials and EDM supplies.
“We are on a constant journey to help our customers improve processes,” he continues. “For example, we recently reached an exclusive agreement with Houghton International to handle all UK distribution for their dielectric EDM fluids. For 15 years we have been supplying a product made in Canada called Commonwealth Dielectric EDM 244 and Super Supreme. The company producing that was acquired by Houghton and the production of that dielectric has now been brought back to the UK. We are extremely pleased that Houghton demonstrated such confidence in us by establishing our own exclusive agreement with them.”
For further information www.erodex.com