EDM & ECM THAT SINKING FEELING
Austrian firm GMB has invested in a
Mitsubishi MV2400R Connect to boost
high quality mould tool manufacture
Connect is making a genuine difference.
Mitsubishi EDM machines are available in
the UK from HK Technologies (https://is.gd/
aliqum).
A total of 35 injection moulding
machines can be found in the halls of GBM.
Be it parts for cars, medical devices or
telecommunications equipment, there is
very little that GBM cannot mould in plastic.
“Vehicle charging equipment is an area
that is currently developing very strongly,”
says managing director Roland Barth.
“Extremely complex shapes are created for
this, to produce wall boxes for example.”
With this in mind, the company recently
purchased a Mitsubishi MV2400R Connect
with travels of 600 by 400 by 310 in X, Y
and Z, which is being used almost
exclusively to produce injection mould tools.
In addition to the machine’s fast cutting
speed, the quality of the surfaces is an
important factor for the Austrian firm.
“For us, the investment was important,
so that we could produce moulds faster
than ever before, with surfaces that do not
have to be reworked,” concludes Barth.
“We want to continue growing and the
machine will support us in our efforts.”
Across the Atlantic, Concours Mold,
which claims to be one of the leading
manufacturers of large automotive moulds
in North America, is relying on recently
installed ONA EDM technology to help it
meet the demands of customers that
include General Motors, Ford, Nissan,
Chrysler, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW
and Mercedes-Benz.
In order to provide a reliable response
and the best possible service to such
important companies, Windsor, Canadabased
Concours Mold has acquired a
double-head ONA TQX10 die-sink EDM
machine, which is said to be the biggest in
the market, having travel distances
available of up to 3,000, 1,500 and
1,000 mm in the three linear axes. ONA
EDM machines are available in the UK from
CNC International (https://is.gd/fafawo).
Combining the machine’s two heads
simultaneously and independently saves
50% of the erosion time and doubles
productivity. The TQX10 package purchased
by Concours Mold also includes two Erowa
robots for changing electrodes.
Lead time times for moulds are currently
between eight and 24 weeks, depending on
size and technical complexity. The company
manufactures between 300 and 350
moulds per year. Ed Ergun, sales manager
at Concours Mold, says: “We are always
looking for the latest breakthroughs in
machinery and equipment; anything that
results in better quality parts and shorter
lead times for our clients.” ■
Latest EDM news & products in brief
■ Form P 350 die-sink EDMs from GF Machining Solutions feature
precision-enhancing qualities and integrated technologies that
are said to boost productivity and profitability. A compact C-axis
construction, fixed table and cast iron frame offer stability and
force reduction to maintain a precise spark gap between the
part and electrode. Regardless of component weight or dielectric
volume, the machines are said to deliver consistently high
accuracies and surface finishes of Ra 0.1. With X-, Y- and Z-axis
travels of 350 by 250 by 300 mm, the machine handles parts up
to 700 by 460 by 275 mm. More details: https://is.gd/tavake
■ Suited to high precision cutting tasks mandated by the medical,
as well as the tool and mouldmaking industries, two models from
the Robocut range of wire EDM machines from FANUC (https://
is.gd/ematin) were fully operational on the company’s stand at the
recent EMO 2019 exhibition (see also p14). The smaller α-C400iB
model was supported by a collaborative robot complete with
iRVision to identify components that need to be machined, while
the larger α-C800iB machine was cutting aerospace parts.
■ The recently enhanced Erowa LoadMaster range from REM
Systems (https://is.gd/xehowi) builds on the ability to offer the
automatic loading and unloading of workpieces up to 4,000 kg.
Equipped with a 360° swivel function, any position in the magazine
and on the machine tool table can reliably be reached. According to
the company, customers equipped with an Erowa system can
typically increase productivity by a factor of five when using various
production technologies, including die-sink EDM.
■ Hirschmann GmbH in Fluorn-Winzeln has reworked its corporate
identity and become Carl Hirschmann GmbH (Oelheld UK, https://
is.gd/ohunom), which is an expression of brand values and based
on the name of the company’s founder. Carl Hirschmann GmbH
develops and produces rotary tables and clamping systems that
allow precise and efficient workpiece machining on EDM machines,
as well as other machine tool types. The company recently
concluded its financial year, increasing sales to more than
€29 million.
■ At the recent EMO exhibition (see also p14), Vollmer presented
its newly developed VHybrid 360 grinding and erosion machine,
which can be used to produce solid carbide and PCD cutting tools
in a single set-up. With the newly devised Vollmer tool manager,
users can intuitively manage the automatic switching of up to eight
grinding or eroding wheels. VHybrid 360 is based on multi-layer
machining, which is implemented through two vertically arranged
spindles. The bottom spindle can be used for both grinding and
eroding, while the top spindle is reserved exclusively for grinding.
Vollmer’s key erosion component is the VPulse EDM generator.
https://is.gd/mezoku
50 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets November 2019
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