CUT F Series

With the perfect balance of precision and productivity in mind, GF Machining Solutions launched the first model of its new CUT F Series of wire electrical discharge machines (EDMs) yesterday. The launch coincided with the grand opening of the company’s Medical Center of Competence. As the first of its kind, the new center provides manufacturers supplying the medical industry with comprehensive applications support along with world-class production technologies, one of which is EDM.

Stemming from over 100 years of EDM experience, the new CUT F 600 is designed for ease of use and flexibility thanks to many of the company’s most innovative technologies. These include the Uniqua control, ISPS and iWire intelligent functions and RFID Smart Wire system along with design enhancements for thermal stabilization, vibration control and machine movement precision.

The CUT F 600’s intuitive Uniqua human/machine interface (HMI) delivers optimal functionality and ergonomics with a 19" vertical touchscreen, full keyboard and mouse. For the utmost compatibility, Uniqua supports legacy file types from various EDM manufacturers, and with offline and at-the-machine programming, ISO-based functionality and object-oriented programming, Uniqua provides a powerful graphic tool with integrated CAM and also ensures compatibility with major CAD/CAM programs.

The iWire function, a true innovation for the industry, of the CUT F 600 automatically identifies and adapts wire speed to changing erosion height conditions during the wire EDM process. This capability eliminates wire breakage while reducing overall wire consumption per job, in some instances by as much as 29%. The iWire function works in tandem with the company’s Intelligent Spark Protection System (ISPS), both of which are part of the Uniqua control.

iWire can not only recognize exactly where the sparks of a wire EDM are happening during the process, it can also measure and identify the position of each spark along the length of an EDM’s wire. Knowing the exact location of a spark allows iWire to automatically adapt the wire spool speed accordingly. Such capability reduces the chances of wire breakage during unattended operations when EDMing parts with steps and other features that vary the erosion height – the length of the actual surface areas where the wire is eroding/cutting.

Also available with the CUT F Series machines is the RFID SMART wire spool technology. The system stores wire characteristics as well as other traceability-related data.

For increased precision machine movement, vibration control and overall process stability, the CUT F Series machines feature several enhanced design elements. One of which is the cooling of axis optical encoders using the worktank and the dielectric fluid. The other design change is the incorporation of higher accuracy machine ballscrews that improve both positioning accuracy and smoothness.