EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining)

Reliable EDM will take on any job that other shops can't machine conventionally or cost-effectively.n

Poco Graphite Inc., Decatur, Texas, added Marc Sanders to its EDM support team.

Sandvik Coromant Co., Fair Lawn, N.J., and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, Alberta, extended their contract until 2022.

Motion Industries Inc., Birmingham, Ala., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts and a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co., will open a distribution center in Auburn, Wash., in late spring.

With the release of HyperConnect, Makino offers a suite of industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications for electrical discharge machines that enhances user experience and efficiency, and reduces machine downtime. Available on all Makino EDMs equipped with Hyper-i control systems, HyperConnect enables shop managers and operators to easily monitor and control EDM processes from any PC, smart device or other Hyper-i control systems on the network.

The cutting of intricate profiles and odd angles is the domain of wire EDM machining processes, capable of creating ultraprecise shapes and superior finishes that are near-impossible to machine by other means. However, just because a shape is difficult to machine does not mean it should be hard to program.

Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., Dover, Ohio, a tooling manufacturer of complete holemaking solutions, has announced its new engineering training department, which provides comprehensive, hands-on education programs for new employees, end users and distributors from around the world.

To address the need for high-quality hole drilling of turbine engine components, Synova and Makino are joining forces to offer the HybridCell, which combines the power of Synova's Laser MicroJet (LMJ) with Makino's leading edge EDM capabilities. It is a fully automated, manufacturing-ready, work cell.

The major wire EDM builders are still in competition, of course, but on other playing fields. The latest developments in wire electrical discharge machining focus on throughput, ease of use and automation.

Electrical discharge machining (EDMing) goes by many names—burning, spark machining, spark eroding, vaporizing—but they all refer to variations on the same process: removing material by running an electric current between an electrode and a negatively charged workpiece material submerged in a dielectric fluid.

SST introduces the Versamax FHD26M manual fast-hole-drilling Machine. Built to SST specifications, the Versamax EDM drill can be used in applications ranging from simple wire EDM start holes, to complex patterns containing multiple hole sizes.

Makino introduces its EDNC6 and EDNC8 sinker EDMs that combine rigid and precise construction, simple touch-screen programming and advanced performance features for accurate and fast cutting of large workpieces. Makino says its proprietary technologies included on the EDNC6 and EDNC8 ensure the ideal mix of speed, surface finish and reduced electrode wear.