Page 1 of 1 in the Surface Finish category
 Friday, August 08, 2008
An Update on Our Aerospace Material Testing

I've mentioned in the past that Makino is doing materials testing of aerospace alloys that have been processed with EDM. Makino has shown 2 webinars addressing this topic. I will be presenting more information on this topic as a speaker at this year's IMTS in Chicago, IL on Wednesday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. Makino EDM has had testing done on several different aerospace alloys, having just added Inconel 718 to the list of tested materials. Other alloys previously tested for HAZ, recast, micro-cracking, and Vickers Micro-hardness include 6061-T6 aluminum, 17-4 stainless, and 6Al-4V titanium. Be sure to stop by the Business and Technology Forum to see results of the latest testing performed by a NADCAP certified lab.

Accuracy | High Speed Burning | Surface Finish
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 Friday, April 25, 2008
Wire EDM testing in progress...results soon to come.

I've mentioned this before here, but I want to remind everyone that Makino is doing some interesting materials testing related to EDM and aerospace manufacturing.  We've already had a lot of Wire EDM testing done - 18 samples, 3 different alloys (17-4PH, AL6-4V, 6061-T6), 1, 2, and 3 pass machining. Tests performed were recast thickness, Heat Affected Zone thickness, micro cracks, and Vickers Micro Hardness.  We've seen some very impressive results that you can see in our webinar archives at Makino.com . We are now in the process of testing the same 3 alloys, same tests, but with Sinker EDM burns. We'll be adding Inconel 713 in the very near future. I'll have results from these tests in the next couple of weeks, and I'll presenting this data at the Montreal Machine Technology Show on Tuesday, May 13. Anyone interested in these types of tests should stop by if you're attending the show. I'll also be supporting our Canadian distributor, SST-Canada, in their booth, number 332. If you're at the show, stop by either the technical presentation on Tuesday morning, or the SST booth to say hi. If you'd like a copy of the test results of what we've done so far, just send me an email and I'll send you a copy.

Accuracy | Cycle Time Reduction | High Speed Burning | Surface Finish
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 Thursday, April 17, 2008
Witness lines virtually eliminated with SurfaceWIZARD

Hey guys, I thought I'd let you all take a look at a new test cut piece that the EDM Applications Department in Auburn Hills came up with.  This part shows how well SurfaceWizard technology handles interrupted and variable thickness cuts without leaving lines at transition points.  With older technology, cutting across these kinds of details would leave anything from fine witness lines, to gouges that could be several thousandths of an inch deep.  The only visible line here is on the left side of the "K" in Makino.  Not only did SurfaceWizard allow cutting of this part without leaving severe witness lines, the technology also helps produce a straight, flat cut along the surface being worked.  This part came directly off of the machine, with no hand work or secondary operations to "polish up" the EDMed surface.  For more details on SurfaceWizard technology, contact me via phone or email, or call EDM Applications at our Die Mold Technology Center in Auburn Hills, MI at 248-232-6200.

Accuracy | Surface Finish
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 Monday, January 28, 2008
Coming up this week - SurfaceWIZARD webinar
If surface finish is the name of the game in your EDM world, SurfaceWIZARD is definately something you should look into. We have a webinar coming up this Thursday discussing the topic.

Register to attend at www.makino.com/events today!

Surface Finish
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 Monday, September 17, 2007
SurfaceWIZARD

We had a request for some images illustrating SurfaceWIZARD, so here you go.

This diagram illustrates the flatness that can be achieved with SurfaceWIZARD in two machining passes.

This sample part shows how SurfaceWIZARD virtually eliminates lines at transition points.

Surface Finish
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 Sunday, September 16, 2007
Makino Introduces SurfaceWIZARD™ Wire EDM Technology

Makino is proud to announce its latest Wire EDM technology development, SurfaceWIZARD, which virtually eliminates witness lines.

SurfaceWIZARD is the newest control technology development from Makino’s EDM R&D. This technology provides exceptional surface quality in applications where the part has variable shape thickness or sudden changes in thickness, such as a stepped part. It will be an invaluable tool for shops manufacturing parts for the aerospace, medical and injection mold markets

Witness Lines

Historically, when stepped parts have been Wire EDMed the process would leave a “witness” line at the transition from one step thickness to the next. Many times the part would have a taper with variations in straightness across the machined surface. SurfaceWIZARD virtually eliminates these lines and has been shown to maintain part straightness within 5 microns in one pass and within 2.5 microns in two pass machining.

SurfaceWIZARD technology has been developed for tool steels up to 4 inches (100mm) thick, and will support 0.008” (0.020mm) and 0.010” (0.025mm) diameter wires with one and two pass conditions. This technology was developed specifically for use in poor flushing conditions where the nozzles cannot be sealed on the work surface. The technology is available as a standard technology on all Makino SP and U series Wire EDMs with the MGW-S5 control.

Demonstrated at Die/Mold Expo

The new SurfaceWIZARD control will be demonstrated at the Makino Die/Mold Expo and EDM Forum to be held September 25 through September 28, 2007 at the Makino Die/Mold Technical Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

For more information on this and other Makino EDM innovations, contact Makino EDM Applications or Jeff Kiszonas, EDM Product Line Manager for Makino, at 248-232-620

Surface Finish
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