EDM Performance Accessories’ Tilt and Slide Rail and Fixturing System Simplifies Part Removal

EDM Performance Accessories’ Tilt and Slide rail and fixturing system is designed and built for customers that are looking for the cutting advantages of horizontal EDM without the complexity and drawbacks of a single-use horizontal machine. The system is a valuable add-on to EDM’s HB series Wire EDM platform.

Through testing prototype horizontal systems and other cutoff methods, EDM found that the advantages with horizontal cutting and improved part falloff can be realized much easier than flipping the entire plate upside down. With a simple tilt of the plate, the parts naturally fall away from the plate and easily drop off. In builds with high populations of parts this can be a big advantage.

The core of the system is the one-of-a-kind pivot table which offers extremely tight tolerances and very high rigidity. Operators can easily load plates flat like a table top and then simply flip the fixture to vertical or a 10- and 20-degree stop position. Flip position repeatability is ±0.0002" and it's built strong enough to easily handle plates over 500 lbs. All systems come predrilled for EOS and Renishaw additive manufacturing (AM) build plates. Additional bolt patterns can be easily added as required.

Another important part of this system is the angled wire. EDM developed extension arm and guide angle plates to adapt to the current HB series of EDMs. This simple system bolts on in 45 minutes, enabling easy conversion from vertical or horizontal style cutting. By running the guide blocks at 20 degrees there is no additional wear on parts and no additional training needed from a traditional vertical cutting system.

The system also makes it as easy as possible for operators to load parts and then accurately move them to the back of the machine for cut off, even with heavy parts. The company placed the system on an accurate linear rail system for effortless movement from the front to the back of the machine.

The system’s main advantages include parts naturally falling away from the plate just like a horizontal cutting method, thereby greatly reducing any short outs or wire breaks — even on heavily populated plates. Users can go from a full-function, 4-axis vertical EDM to a horizontal style cutoff in 45 minutes. This gives shops a lot of flexibility in one machine tool.

It can cut up to three 250-mm build plates in one run, which can increase overnight and unattended production. The simplicity of the system on a proven EDM platform ensures great reliability and ease of use. Users can easily retrieve parts at any point in the cutoff processes to begin postprocessing without stopping the cutoff. The lower head is out of the way of any falling parts. The system will retrofit on existing or new HB600 and HB800 Moly Cut EDMs.