Fanuc to launch new ‘D’ series wire EDM at EMO
The latest top-selling Fanuc wire EDM range will demonstrate further improved performance at EMO 2007.
An increase in capacity making it the largest working volume in its class with faster automatic wire feed and improved thermal characteristics, an increase of some 40 per cent to machine rigidity and the addition of twin-servo wire tension control giving some 35 per cent reduction of mechanical parts, are all key factors to improve performance of the latest top-selling Fanuc wire EDM range.
Launched at EMO 2007 in Hannover and available from 600 Centre of Shepshed near Loughborough, the Fanuc ‘D’ series of Robocut Alpha i wire EDM can be specified in a compact 370 mm by 270 mm in X and Y axis strokes or 600 mm by 400 mm respectively and in three types: Fine Wire and Standard with a separate lower cost production machine version introduced without automated wirefeed.
In each version, the latest Fanuc FS 310 is/WA control with 15 inch LCD screen and touch panel provide easy to use twin-screen display giving an individual scaling mode around the wire position. It also has the capability to be programmed on the screen at a rate some 10 times faster than the previous C-Series machine.
Also included in the development of the latest control is the ability of the wire position cursor to automatically follow the machining path. A special OiD version can also be specified with five-axis simultaneous control, working in conjunction with a touch trigger probe that provides a fully automated process ideal for cutting polycrystalline diamond tooling.
Fanuc has completely redesigned its casting structure for the new machine with a large bed that eliminates any table overhang and creates a working structure some 40 per cent more rigid than the model it replaces. With the enlarged capacity in X and Y, the maximum workpiece size is increased to 700 mm by 600 mm with the Robocut Alpha OiD and 1050 mm by 820 mm with the larger liD machine. An automatic drop-down door gives improved access to the working area.
By adopting a twin-servo wire tension control, any variation in wire tension is reduced to a quarter of the previous machine design and precise control is maintained over the wire diameter that can range from 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. With the number of mechanical parts reduced by 35 per cent, a very simple wire feed system is created requiring lower maintenance attention.
Fanuc has also incorporated servo control over dielectric fluid levels enabling optimised cutting to be maintained for different thickness of workpiece. The level of fluid automatically follows the Z-axis position over the 255 mm stroke on the OiD and 310/410 mm on the larger IiD machine.
By incorporating a new design of automatic wire feed based on an air jet, operational time is reduced to 10 secs saving some 16 per cent from the previous machine wire re-feed time.
For further information, contact:
David Wilkinson (Sales Director - 600 Centre)
Tel: +44 (0)1509 600600
Mike Wildish (Wildish Communications)
Tel: +44 (0) 1634 832221
