It is common knowledge that the industry has become increasingly competitive over the last decade—and moldmakers have responded in kind with shorter leadtimes while cutting costs and improving quality. To keep up with their customers, manufacturers and suppliers of CAD/CAM technology also have been pushing the envelope to create more sophisticated software that can address [...]
Thickness analysis software is a CAD tool that facilitates the measurement and validation of wall thickness of 3-D CAD models. It accelerates the design review process for manufacturability, enabling designs to move to prototyping and production stages much faster. Unlike the traditional measurement tools, the right thickness analysis software should be fast and easy to [...]
It is somewhat ironic that software companies are promoting closer integration when an increasing number of toolmakers are separating design and manufacture by putting responsibility for CAM onto the shop floor. This approach gives a number of potential advantages. […]
The closer integration of the two technologies offers obvious advantages to smaller manufacturers of simpler parts, where the product designer will often also be the machine tool programmer. Having a common interface for the CAD and CAM software makes learning the two programs easier, while automatic updating of the toolpaths if the design changes will [...]
The spark intensity is not the only determining factor affecting the surface integrity. This also is dependent on the thermal conductivity of the work metal. High thermally conductive metals will usually have a smaller white layer and less microcracking than a lower conductive material. […]
In moldmaking applications, High Energy Applied Technology (H.E.A.T.) can be used very effectively to cut inserts, core pins and insert pockets that contain contours and changing surface thicknesses. […]
High Energy Applied Technology(H.E.A.T.) has been tested against other major EDM brands. In almost every case, it has been proven to burn at least 15 percent faster, produce part straightness of .0005 inches in one roughing pass and .0002 inches with one rough and one skim, in parts up to 12 inches tall, and provide [...]
High Energy Applied Technology (H.E.A.T.) was developed to address the need for high-speed cutting of wire EDM applications where good, sealed flushing cannot be achieved, while at the same time providing high accuracy, unparalleled part straightness, and good surface finishes. The desire to be able to use the most common EDM wires in today’s market [...]
Surface finish and integrity are two different facets of the cavity quality, but both play an important part in the characteristics of the mold. Much as the machine parameters affect the integrity of the sub-layers of the cavity, they also affect the surface finish. […]
Wire-making dies have a hole through the middle of them. A wire or rod of Steel, copper, or other metals or alloy, enters into one side and is lubricated and reduced in size. The leading tip of the wire is usually pointed in the process. The tip of the wire is then guided into the [...]