Wire EDM Enables Unattended Micromachining

Makino’s UPN-01 wire EDM with horizontal feed system is said to enable reliable unattended operation, even with wire diameters as fine as 0.00078" (0.02 mm). It is designed for fiber optics, electronic connectors, medical components, micro-molding and other high-accuracy, micro-tolerance machining applications, and its oil dielectric configuration makes it suitable for use with carbide and other hardened materials.

The EDM accommodates workpieces ranging to 5.90" × 5.90" × 1.57" (150 × 150 × 40 mm) and weighing as much as 17.63 lbs (8 kg), including the toolholder. X-, Y- and Z-axis travels measure 6.29" × 6.29" × 1.96" (160 × 160 × 50 mm), while additional U- and V-axis travels measure ±0.27" (7 mm). A rotary C axis holds and indexes the workpiece, providing rotational positioning accuracies of ±2 arcseconds.

Workpieces are suspended vertically with palletized toolholders, and a pneumatic chuck system is used for loading and unloading. Gravitational pull helps to evacuate cores from the work zone, and an automatic jet nozzle can flush out materials ranging to 0.59 in² (15 mm²) with dialectric fluid. An extruding pin fitted with a sensor checks for core removal during unattended operation.

The UPN-01 accommodates wire diameters ranging from approximately 0.00078" to 0.00393" (0.02 to 0.1 mm) with a minimum start hole diameter of 0.00118" (0.03 mm). Reliable automatic wire threading is achieved with an air injection and suction system. The maximum taper angle capability is ±6 degrees with a 0.00393" (0.1-mm) wire diameter and 1.57" (40-mm) plate thickness. The machine’s movement positioning and repeatability accuracy is rated at ±0.00002" (±0.5 micron). The EDM also is equipped with Makino’s Hyper i control system with 24" touchscreen display, onboard electronic manuals, instruction training videos and process control functions.