GF Machining Solutions has launched the first model of its new CUT F Series of wire electrical discharge machines (EDMs).
The launch coincided with the grand opening of the company’s Medical Center of Competence. The new centre provides manufacturers supplying the medical industry with applications support along with production technologies, one of which is EDM.
The CUT F 600 is designed for ease of use and flexibility. Supporting technologies include the Uniqua control, ISPS and iWire intelligent functions and RFID Smart Wire system along with design enhancements for thermal stabilization, vibration control and machine movement precision.
The CUT F 600’s Uniqua human/machine interface (HMI) delivers functionality and ergonomics with a 19″ vertical touchscreen, full keyboard and mouse. Uniqua supports legacy file types from various EDM manufacturers, and with offline and at-the-machine programming, ISO-based functionality and object-oriented programming, Uniqua provides a powerful graphic tool with integrated CAM and also ensures compatibility with major CAD/CAM programs.
The iWire function of the CUT F 600 automatically identifies and adapts wire speed to changing erosion height conditions during the wire EDM process. This capability eliminates wire breakage while reducing overall wire consumption per job, in some instances by as much as 29 percent. The iWire function works in tandem with the company’s Intelligent Spark Protection System (ISPS), both of which are part of the Uniqua control.
iWire can not only recognize exactly where the sparks of a wire EDM are happening during the process, it can also measure and identify the position of each spark along the length of an EDM’s wire. Knowing the exact location of a spark allows iWire to automatically adapt the wire spool speed accordingly. Such capability reduces the chances of wire breakage during unattended operations when EDMing parts with steps and other features that vary the erosion height – the length of the actual surface areas where the wire is eroding/cutting.
Also available with the CUT F Series machines is the RFID SMART wire spool technology. The system stores wire characteristics as well as other traceability-related data.
