With modern wire EDM machines utilizing CNC (the Computer
Control, or the brains of the machine if you will) for
production, there is a user-interface device, the computer,
where the worker will input the required data for design that
will eventually guide the wire EDM machine during the passes and
cuts in the process of creating the final product. Moreover,
like any computer today, software is needed to run the
equipment. This is no different in wire EDM. The CNC Controller
and the software application comprise the wire EDM technology.
In much the same way that many different software applications
for word processing or email exist, so to are there numerous
wire EDM technology software applications for wire EDM machine
CNC controllers, nearly all of which integrate with varying
AutoCAD or similar CAD/CAM software. Today, developers can
create the object in AutoCAD, designing tensile strength,
variances, etc. and provide that to a wire EDM shop that will
then plug this design into the wire EDM Technology software,
which will in turn drive the machine, turning out the final
product.
Some of the more popular wire EDM technology software
applications today, which are typically supported on Windows
Operating System machines, include:
-PEPS Wire EDM, developed and distributed by Camtek -VISI-wire,
developed and distributed by Vero International Software
-TracTrix, developed and distributed by Trixsystems
Each wire EDM machine CNC controller will have its own
requirements as to what software can be used. However, nearly
all software today can incorporate and use files with numerous
extensions, e.g. ".DWG" files from AutoCAD, to decrease the time
from development to production. Furthermore, by being able to
pull the commands for wire EDM from the developer's CAD file,
the final product will have no variance from the developer's
final vision of that product before production.
About the author:
Wire EDM Info provides
detailed information about wire EDM machines, machining, heat
affected zone, technology and more. Wire EDM Info is the sister
site of
Metal Stamping
Web.
