Wire EDM Uses Automatic Wire Changer

This high-performance wire EDM uses universal wire guide systems for micro-machining and super-precision applications that are ideal for the medical industry and includes the industry’s only automatic wire changer.

GF AgieCharmilles (Lincolnshire, IL) CUT 2000 wire EDM OilTech features an automatic wire changer that simultaneously enables clean surface finishes and high productivity by utilizing brass wire for rough cutting and molybdenum wire for the finishing cut.

The CUT 2000 OilTech machine employs universal wire guide systems, enabling it to accommodate wires from 0.01 in (0.30 mm) down to 0.002 in (0.05 mm) for micro-machining and super-precision applications. The automatic wire thread and re-thread capabilities of the machine also facilitate unmanned, lights-out production. Furthermore, the Vision 5 numerical control on the machine allows for quick, easy organization and management of multiple unattended jobs.

Additionally, the CUT 2000 OilTech utilizes oil as an inert dielectric. This eliminates the effects of corrosion due to long periods of immersion in the workpiece. The oil also enables smaller distances between the wire and workpiece to produce smaller internal radii when compared to water-based machining.

With the optional automatic wire changer, CUT 2000 operators can easily switch between different wire diameter sizes and types, optimizing both roughing and finishing operations and reducing production costs. A manufacturer, for example, could use a larger diameter, less costly brass wire for rough passes where the emphasis is on high stock removal.

A smaller diameter wire, which is often more expensive, could then be applied for intricate details and fine finishing passes. The most dramatic results occur when working with parts requiring the use of wire diameters 0.004 in (0.1016 mm) or smaller.

The CUT 2000 machine has X-, Y- and Z-axis travels of 13.8 in (350 mm) x 9.8 in (250 mm) x 10.1 in (256 mm), respectively. When considering the machine’s fluid bath, the CUT 2000 can accommodate submerged workpieces weighing up to 440 lbs (200 kg) and unsubmerged workpieces up to 992 lb (451 kg). The machine also achieves taper cuts of +/- 30 deg over 3.93 in (100 mm) in height.

Equipped with a highly efficient digital Intelligent Power Generator and Variocut, the CUT 2000 is able to provide reliable machining of even the most complex parts and achieve surface finishes as fine as Ra 0.05 µm.

Featuring a compact footprint, the CUT 2000 has a rigid machine base as well as a precise integrated measuring system for lifelong, repeatable accuracy. The machine also manages and minimizes thermal distortion generating from various machine sources, including generators and pumps, which have their own individual cooling systems.

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