Two Wire EDMs Running Head to Head

An interesting comparison of two wire EDM machines. Both machines are spooling during the roughing pass. The test ran the same part, with the same parameters. The cycle times and surface finished were virtually the same. Both machines performed equally in this test, but one machine used 55% less wire.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• edm
• wire
• machining
• makino
• Sodick
• Agie
• Fanuc
• Charmilles
• Mitsubishi
• Ona
• Chemer
• Accutex

[SingleSourceTech]

Makino WEDMs run wire feeds of about 0.6 pounds per hour with standard settings for .008, .010 and .012 wire, under most technologies. Even on the conservative side, Makino still provides a 40% benefit in lower wire consumption and costs.

[SingleSourceTech]

Also, if you slow down the wire feed rate, you must also slow down the cut speed, thus increasing cycle times. If the cut speed remains the same, the result will be increased wire lag in the cut, causing excessive wire breaks, extended cycle times, and possible inaccuracies and poor surface finishes. Most machines can efficiently run with wire feeds down to about 1-1.2 pounds per hour. Go below this and the problems and cycle times can start to outweigh the wire savings.

[SingleSourceTech]

@2007waffen The simple answer here is yes, most modern machines will allow you to slow down wire feed rate, or unspooling speed. HOWEVER, this can introduce problems into the burn. One reason some machines run such high wire feeds is to compensate for the taper that could result on the wire from wear as it travels through the part thickness. If the wire travels faster, the wire wear is reduced.

[2007waffen]

Couldn't you just turn the wire speed down on the competitors machine to match the makino?