Erodex invests £400,000 in latest automation

Erodex Group, a UK designer and manufacturer of graphite electrodes, tooling and fixtures is celebrating 50 years in business by investing £400,000 in automation at the company’s state-of-the-art graphite machining facility in the West Midlands.

This year marks 50 years in business for family-owned Erodex, which is looking to the future with the purchase of an automated pallet loading system to work in co-ordination with existing high-speed machining centres.As a result of the investment, the company expects to maximise efficiencies and output within the high-volume area of the business, creating capacity without the need to layer-in additional shift patterns.In addition, the alignment of existing machining capacity with automation provides Erodex with a portfolio that it has previously been unable to offer, thus creating new business opportunities.

The company’s facility in Wednesbury enables Erodex to machine its wide variety of graphite grades into highly complex components for a range of industries. It has also been a key driver in the significant growth witnessed by the Erodex Group in recent years, following a £1.75m investment in new machinery in 2021.

Steve Rolinson, director at Erodex Group, says: “Since the mid-1980s the Erodex Group has enabled customers to benefit from the capabilities of our ISO9001-accredited graphite machining facility, which is widely regarded as the best graphite machining facility in Europe.Continued planned investment as part of our continuous improvement programme – including that in automation – means we are well placed to capitalise on market opportunities moving forward. It also reinforces our position as UK leaders in the design and manufacture of graphite electrodes, tooling and fixtures for the aerospace and IGT sectors.”
For further information www.erodex.com

Vollmer VDays focus on efficient processes

Sharpening specialist Voller recently opened its doors for the company’sVDays 2023 in-house trade fair at Biberach. Across three days, customers, suppliers and partners had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of grinding, eroding and laser machines with keynote speeches, specialist talks and product demonstrations. Around 400 visitors from around the world attended the event, which not only focussed on automation and digitalisation, but also efficient production using sustainable processes.

“We’re very satisfied with the popularity of and interest in our VDays,” says Jürgen Hauger, joint CEO of theVollmer Group. “In particular, we enjoyed the face-to-face conversations that we were able to have with our customers and partners.”

Over the course of VDays, Vollmer product managers and engineers explained sharpening technologies for various grinding, erosion and laser machines, as well as their potential applications in the metalworking industries. These presentations also included the latest innovations in tool manufacturing, such as the VLaser 370 laser machine, VGrind series tool grinding machines and the VHybrid 260 grinding and erosion machine.

Other machines, such as the CS 860 and the CSF 860 grinding machines, are suitable for the sustainable sharpening of circular saws. These models can machine the tooth face, tooth top and flanks of carbide-tipped circular saw teeth with high precision, energy efficiency and automation.

“Together with partner companies at the VDays, we managed to map the entire process chain in tool manufacturing and indicate how important digitalisation, automation and process efficiency are to tool grinding,” explains Dr Stefan Brand, joint CEO of theVollmer Group. “These trends offer opportunities for differentiation and competitive advantages, both for our customers and for ourselves.”
For further information www.vollmer-group.com

Selecting the best copper for EDM electrodes

When it comes to EDM electrodes, having the best copper is essential for optimal performance, reports EDM Plus, a UK specialist in EDM machine sales, EDM consumables sales, EDM subcontracting and other related services. The company says that copper is an essential part of the process, as it provides the electrical current needed to create the spark that powers the machining process. The right copper for EDM electrodes will ensure consistent and successful machining.

Several types of copper are available for EDM electrodes, including oxygen-free high-conductivity (OHFC) copper, electro-refined (ER) copper and electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper.

For EDM electrodes, OHFC is the preferred choice because it offers excellent electrical conductivity, low resistivity and good thermal stability. It also has higher resistance to corrosion than other types of copper and is suitable for use in harsh environments.

When selecting EDM electrodes, EDM Plus says machine shops should look for those made with a high-grade OHFC copper alloy. This type of alloy offers enhanced wear resistance and is suitable for use in a wide variety of applications. Additionally, it has a relatively low coefficient of friction and can withstand higher temperatures for longer periods of time than other types of copper.

For added protection against wear and tear, consider using EDM electrodes made from an alloy containing additional elements like chromium or molybdenum. These alloys are more resistant to corrosion and are more suitable for use in corrosive environments. They also tend to offer improved properties when exposed to high temperatures or pressure.

Finally, keep in mind that the cost of EDM electrodes varies depending on the type of copper used. OHFC is generally more expensive than other types of copper, but its superior performance makes it worth the investment.
For further information www.edmplus.co

Implant manufacturer opts for Makino wire EDM

A new U6 HEAT from Makino has replaced two outdated wire-cut EDM machines at orthopaedic implant and associated surgical instrument manufacturer MatOrtho. The new wire-erosion machine arrived at MatOrtho’s manufacturing facility in Leatherhead towards the end of March 2023, with installation performed by NCMT, the sole UK sales and service agent for Makino.

David Shand, operations director at MatOrtho, says: “The new Makino wire EDM will significantly increase our instrument production capacity compared with the two machines it replaces. Greater accuracy and speed will allow us to meet our R&D needs and support future sales. This latest significant investment comes at an important time in our transformation as we expand to meet the growing demand from our worldwide customer base.”

Selection of the Makino was due to the quality of both the machine’s build and the service received during the sales process, right through to training at NCMT’s Technical Centre in Coventry. Another important aspect was the environmentally friendly operation of the U6 HEAT, which has low running costs, particularly in respect of reduced wire consumption. Shand adds that it will help drive the company’s transition towards a net-zero carbon footprint, especially as only one EDM machine is now drawing power rather than two.

NCMT’s Jon Marshall, Makino EDM sales manager UK south, says: “The Makino U6 HEAT is geared towards high-performance production which, together with the machine’s inherent precision, makes it a perfect fit for MatOrtho’s requirements for both production and research.It’s been a pleasure dealing with Paul Clancy, the company’sproduction engineering manager, and the whole team throughout the process and we at NCMT look forward to assisting MatOrtho with its future investments.”
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

Toolmaker keeps pace with automotive market

With its own press shop serving the production facility of a major automotive plant in Eastern Europe, Essex-based Alpine Tools recently entered the market for a new wire EDM machine. Faced with a requirement to manufacture tools for its in-house press operations and various subcontract customers, the company selected a Sodick VL600Q CNC wire-erosion machine from a shortlist of six.

“Our previous wire EDM [not Sodick] was reaching the end of its useful life, so it was time to invest in another,” explains managing director Keith Chetland. “I used an Excel spreadsheet to cross-reference and benchmark six EDM machines. We chose the VL600Q from Sodi-Tech EDM for a number of reasons, notably the 10-year positioning accuracy guarantee, which shows confidence in the technology.”

Since arrival, the machine has been busy with a variety of tasks, including the manufacture of high-precision press-tool punches and dies. Alpine Tools also usesits new Sodick wire EDM to undertake press-tool maintenance.

In addition, the machine serves the company’s subcontract tool-room operations. Here, the company produces fixtures for machining and welding, along with inspection gauges and other tools from materials such as tool steel, stainless steel and even aluminium. These tools end up in sectors such as medical, heating and lighting.

“We’re an independent toolroom so we’ll take on anything that comes through the door,” says Chetland. “The new Sodick gives us greater accuracy, better economy and a somewhat larger working envelope than we had previously.”

He adds: “We’ve not run lights-out yet, but we plan to. It will be nice to go home at night knowing that we’ll arrive next morning and find the machine still running, without stoppages due to a failed wire re-threading operation, for example.”
For further information www.sodi-techedm.co.uk