2 – 4 axis wire EDM machining in SprutCAM
2&3-axis wire EDM
«Wire EDM 2D Contouring» operation is used for the creation of a wire path along a 2D contour (2-axis machining) as well as for the movement along a 2D contour with a tilted wire (conic or 3-axis machining).
Therefore, the resulting wire path is based on one contour in contrast to 4-axis machining, where the contours described by the wire in the lower and the upper planes are to be specified separately.
4-axis wire EDM
«4D electrical discharge machining of the contour» operation is used for the generation of a wire path along two 2D contours simultaneously. One of these contours defines the movement of the lower sliding guide, and the second contour specifies the movement of the upper sliding guide.
Therefore, in this operation in contrast to «2D machining», the upper and lower ends of the wire can describe a completely different path.
2&3-axis wire EDM
«Wire EDM 2D Contouring» operation is used for the creation of a wire path along a 2D contour (2-axis machining) as well as for the movement along a 2D contour with a tilted wire (conic or 3-axis machining).
Therefore, the resulting wire path is based on one contour in contrast to 4-axis machining, where the contours described by the wire in the lower and the upper planes are to be specified separately.
4-axis wire EDM
«4D electrical discharge machining of the contour» operation is used for the generation of a wire path along two 2D contours simultaneously. One of these contours defines the movement of the lower sliding guide, and the second contour specifies the movement of the upper sliding guide.
Therefore, in this operation in contrast to «2D machining», the upper and lower ends of the wire can describe a completely different path.
It is possible to define the start and end points of machining, wire threading and cutting points, cone angle values and other relevant parameters for each contour individually.
EDM programming features
Interactive interface for EDM programming
SprutCAM allows generating different types of cuts: rough cuts, finish cuts, bridge cutting passes, cleanup cuts after the bridge cutting, etc.
You can also set up machining sequence, optimize cut directions, specify the wire radius compensation technique, allow the output of process shutdown commands into the control program, etc.
Approach-withdrawal indicators are interactive, they can be moved in the graphic window and you can define precise dimensions relative to other elements as well as to the origin of coordinates.
Links for EDM programming
SprutCAM provides a defined set of parameters, allowing to leave special unfinished areas, termed Bridges, on the work piece. When the wire reaches such areas, the system will generate process shutdowns, after which, some additional measures must be taken to fix certain parts of the work piece.
Then unfinished bridges can automatically be cut. You can define the parameters, determining the number of passes for the bridge cutting, number of cuts for cleaning the contour after the bridge cutting, and also parameters determining the execution sequence for these cuts.
Cutting speeds
Modern CNC controllers for EDM allow loading of a table of predefined cutting speeds for each cut of the wire along the contour into the controller. During the machining process, data from the table is selected by specifying a special code of cutting speeds.
SprutCAM support such representation of cutting conditions in its erosion operations. Depending on the thickness and the material of the work piece, the material and the diameter of the wire, the required surface smoothness of the part it is possible to select cutting speed, wire offset value (allowance, individual for each cut and taking into account the wire radius, burnouts, depending on the power of the electric spark, etc.) and other parameters separately for each cut.
The tables of machining conditions can either be selected from special cutting data libraries or updated in each operation manually.
Interactive interface for EDM programming
SprutCAM allows generating different types of cuts: rough cuts, finish cuts, link cutting passes, cleanup cuts after the link cutting, etc.
You can also set up machining sequence, optimize cut directions, specify the wire radius compensation technique, allow the output of process shutdown commands into the control program, etc.
Approach-withdrawal indicators are interactive, they can be moved in the graphic window and you can define precise dimensions relative to other elements as well as to the origin of coordinates.
Links for EDM programming
SprutCAM provides a defined set of parameters, allowing to leave special unfinished areas, termed Bridges, on the work piece. When the wire reaches such areas, the system will generate process shutdowns, after which, some additional measures must be taken to fix certain parts of the work piece.
Then unfinished bridges can automatically be cut. You can define the parameters, determining the number of passes for the bridge cutting, number of cuts for cleaning the contour after the bridge cutting, and also parameters determining the execution sequence for these cuts.
Cutting speeds
Modern CNC controllers for EDM allow loading of a table of predefined cutting speeds for each cut of the wire along the contour into the controller. During the machining process, data from the table is selected by specifying a special code of cutting speeds.
SprutCAM support such representation of cutting conditions in its erosion operations. Depending on the thickness and the material of the work piece, the material and the diameter of the wire, the required surface smoothness of the part it is possible to select cutting speed, wire offset value (allowance, individual for each cut and taking into account the wire radius, burnouts, depending on the power of the electric spark, etc.) and other parameters separately for each cut.
The tables of machining conditions can either be selected from special cutting data libraries or updated in each operation manually.
