MOLD MANUFACTURER INVESTS IN NEW WIRE EDM TO EXPAND MACHINING CAPABILITIES
The purchase was in response to a need for a machine tool that was capable of running .002 in wire and a .0012 in corner radius with extreme accuracy and a superior surface finish.
Posted: November 5, 2010
Mold Craft, Inc. (Willernie, MN) has been designing and building successful, high-volume, multi-cavity, multi-mold projects for small, intricate plastic, silicone, metal and ceramic parts since 1964.
"Our molds have been designed and fabricated to produce medical parts from engineered plastics, LSR, metal and ceramics for drug delivery devices, body implants, dental products, consumer products and microelectronic components for well-known manufacturers," stated Jim Liddell, sales and marketing manager.
Mold Craft recognized the need this year to further enhance their machining capabilities, particularly an increased need on its wire EDM requirements. Engineers researched the major wire EDM manufacturers to make sure they found the best option for their customer needs. The research prompted the purchase of an AG400L from Sodick, Inc. (Schaumburg, IL).
"They had the highest level of technology which was capable of meeting our specific demands," said Justin McPhee, vice president of engineering at Mold Craft. "We needed a machine that was capable of running .002 in wire, a .0012 in corner radius with extreme accuracy and superior surface finish." The AG400L was able to demonstrate these capabilities prior to the purchase. The AG400L features Sodick's Linear Motor Drives, Super Jet AWT, Heidenhain's Absolute Linear Scales and can reduce average energy consumption by up to 60 percent. The AG400L also features Sodick's 3-Sided Rise-Fall Worktank, which eliminates set-up space and helps the operator monitor machining progress even on thin workpieces since the drop tank can be stopped in intermediate positions while machining.
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