“The X-, Y- [width and length] and Z-axis capacity is huge,” said Steve Raucci, EDM product manager at Methods Machine Tools, which is the exclusive distributor of the RoboCut EDM series.
The machine is equipped with Fanuc’s powerful 31i-WB control, which moves process data to and from the machine in many ways — via Ethernet, two USB ports, memory card interface or offline Link 1 monitoring software. The EDM also has LINKi, Fanuc’s PC-based remote-monitoring software that connects machines within a plant and collects, manages and reports data from them and from peripheral devices like programmable logic controllers. The software monitors 211 process points every 8 seconds, Raucci said.
As a result, the EDM can be fully integrated with automated production cells and operate lights-out, as well as fit seamlessly within the Internet of Things. “It is a plug-and-play system,” he said.
The control also allows users to perform a variety of operations, such as increasing motion axes to seven. Raucci said this is readily done by adding a servo drive card that regulates axis movement to the drive table and then entering the addition on the 31i-WB control. The control is preconfigured for extra axes and automatically recognizes and adjusts operation for them.
Other control and machine enhancements include the new Automatic Wire Feed 3 (AWF3) system. This feature threads cutting wire underwater after annealing it with electric heat. The annealing removes curl from the spool-fed wire so it connects directly to the lower head attachment.
The wire diameters available for the C800iB-20 range from 0.004 inch to 0.012 inch. Positioning accuracy is within 0.0001 inch, and maximum cutting speed is 31 square inches per hour.
One innovative feature of the machine is the Core Stitch Function, which extends the unit’s automation capabilities. When machining cores, the unit automatically deposits bronze tabs at points around the cores to keep the cut slugs from falling out of the workpiece. Once a job is finished, the cores can be easily separated manually, or by a robot programmed to lift the piece out of the water tank and separate the cores from it. The robot can reinsert the workpiece in the tank, if necessary, for more cutting.
Another feature of the 31i-WB control is access to built-in cutting instructions. The technology provides set-up recommendations to operators. Raucci said that an operator enters data on only three characteristics in a drop-down menu. The characteristics are wire diameter, the material to be machined and workpiece thickness. The program will provide optimum parameters for operation.
Pat Toensmeier, correspondent
Contact:
Fanuc America Corp.,
888-326-8287, www.fanucamerica.com
Methods Machine Tools Inc.,
Boston, 978-443-5388, www.methodsmachine.com