Makino's U-Series CNC Wire EDM machines won the "26th Annual Machine Design Award" and "Best Wire EDM of the Show" at the biannual JIMTOF Machine Tool Show, held in Japan late last year. The new U-Series machines won these two prestigious awards based on their innovative design concept, which includes a unique drop tank.
"We have been pleased by the acceptance of the U-Series Wire EDM in the precision U.S. market," adds Bill Backus, vice president of Makino's Die/Mold Division. "We introduced these machines following field testing in several key companies around the country. The response was superb."
Both the U32 and U53 Wire EDM machines were demonstrated at the show with automated pallet handling systems. These systems highlight the U-Series' advanced machining features, including an automatic programmable work tank, a fully automatic wire threading system with built in "coreless" machining routines and ultra-high precision (±1 micron) positioning accuracy and repeatability.
The drop tank, with fixed table, has many advantages, including the elimination of the dielectric weight shift during machining, and improved servo reaction speed and precision. This submerged wire EDM meets the needs of die and mold work and other demanding operations that require high productivity and ultra-fine finishes. Submerged processing permits thicker cuts and also allows cuts of varying thickness while minimizing wire breakage, boosting productivity and enabling long, unattended machining runs.
Source: Competitive Mold Maker, Volume 3, Number 2