Recent Postings

There’s a lot of discussion today around “micro,” “nano” and MEMS, and like any new and emerging market, we hear interest from a number of manufacturers that are considering early adoption of these micromachining technologies to remain on the cutting edge.

Makino offers machines such as WEDM, sinker EDM, and high-speed vertical and horizontal machining centers that can hold or even split microns, but as we explain to many manufacturers, in order to work, compete and succeed in the micro market, you also have to build knowledge and expertise in work holding, tooling and metrology. Even though machines like our EDFH1 fine-hole sinker EDM can repeat location accuracy well within the stated spec of the machine and produce hole patterns in the 1.88 Cpk range, inferior tooling can cause scrapped parts, and a lack of proper measurement equipment can result in returned parts and even lost business. Thus, micromachining technologies are often purchased as turnkey systems—a customized package of machines, tooling and programming that is fine-tuned for a particular application and installed by Makino engineers for simple touch-and-go production.

Makino fields a very knowledgeable staff of application engineers, who work closely with our project engineers, tooling vendors, local tool and die shops, and metrology system providers to ensure that customers’ needs are met. Services can range from stand-alone sinkers to automated cells with metrology stations, rail-guided part- and tool-changing robots, and several varieties of machine platforms. We also have a state-of-the-art metrology lab, where we can quantify the results of these sometimes complex automation cells.

Some of the metrology systems that Makino uses to validate and support its research include Alicona’s Infinite Focus, OGP’s Smartscope Flash and Zygo’s NewView. These units range from exotic optical viewing/measuring devices to white-light interferometers capable of measuring distances, surface finishes and details as fine as 1 angstrom. A few of these measuring devices can exceed the cost of an ultra-precision machining center, but if you want to be successful in the micro market, you must be able to validate your results.

For more details on adopting, applying and evaluating micromachining technologies, I encourage you to watch next Thursday’s webinar, “Micromachining/High-Precision Capabilities from Makino,” where our micromachining R&D team leader, John Bradford, will take you on a tour of Makino’s micromachining facility.

-Jeff

Hi everyone, and Happy New Year! Back in October I posted some information here about Makino’s new Active Anti-Rust Unit for WEDM. We also showed this technology at our Expo in Auburn Hills in October with great reception from our guests. Most mold makers that saw this technology at the Expo were eager to get more information about it, saying that just a couple of jobs without rust issues would pay for the unit. On next Thursday, January 19th at 11:00 a.m. EST, I will be presenting a webinar at www.makino.com/events covering additional details of this new option. In the webinar I will be talking about how rust occurs, what has been available to date to combat rust in the work tank of a WEDM, and how Makino’s latest solution helps our customers save time and money. Register today and join me next Thursday to learn more! -Jeff

While we normally discuss topics that are specific to EDM technologies and processes, I found it important and beneficial to discuss the upcoming expiration of the 2011 tax benefits under the 2010 Tax Relief Act. I’ve seen and spoken with numerous manufacturers who have taken advantage of this policy, investing wisely in new technologies to grow their business and improve their competitive stance, while saving greatly on investment costs. Unfortunately, this policy is not permanent and full benefits only apply to manufacturers who have purchased AND installed equipment in 2011.

The previously passed 2010 Small Business Jobs Act allows companies to fully expense $500,000 in tangible property purchased in 2011 under section 179. In addition, businesses can also benefit from a 100 percent bonus depreciation deduction on qualified, new machinery and equipment.

These tax incentives provide businesses that invest in new machinery and equipment extensive savings and better cash flow in the year of acquisition. In some situations, tax savings on new investments have even exceeded monthly payments for the first year and more. Below is an example of this positive cash flow from tax savings.

If you would like more information on these current tax benefits, please check out our new webinar “Investing In Your Future,” hosted by Tom Scherpenberg.

For those still interested in taking advantage of this tax break, Makino has inventory available for many of our most popular machines, including the DUO43 wire EDM and EDAF2 sinker EDM – each ready for immediate delivery. Click here to learn more.

-Jeff

The reason rust occurs on steel parts in deionized water is a simple chemical reaction. Positive iron ions from the steel workpiece dissolve in the water and react with oxygen molecules to form iron oxide, or rust, on the surface of the workpiece. This issue has plagued wire EDM shops since the beginning of commercial wire EDMs. Chemical rust inhibitors have been used as additives to the dielectric fluid, but these inhibitors require monitoring to maintain concentration and can shorten the life of the deionizing resin.

Makino has recently addressed this issue in water-based wire EDMs with a simple circuit added to the work tank that gives the workpiece a negative electrical potential. The circuit causes the workpiece to attract positive iron ions, preventing them from dissolving in the water and forming rust. Machines equipped with such a device have been shown to eliminate rusting of steel parts for up to 24 hours, even after machining has stopped. The pictures below illustrate steel parts that have been submerged in the deionized water of a DUO machine with and without the anti-rust unit. The part submerged in the machine without the anti-rust unit is fully covered with rust, whereas the other part is clean and rust-free.

This electric anti-rust unit was demonstrated at Makino’s Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Expo in Auburn Hills, Mich. It garnered a lot of interest from those looking at wire EDM technologies, and it should prove to be a tool that saves time and increases profit for Makino customers performing long run-time, submerged wire EDMing of steel workpieces. New machines can be ordered with the option, and the anti-rust unit can be retrofitted to currently installed machines.

For more information on this new technology, you can contact me at Jeff.Kiszonas@makino.com or by calling (248) 232-6208.

-Jeff

Both pieces were submerged in dielectric water for 24 hours. No machining was performed during this time.

Without Electric Anti-Rust Unit


With Electric Anti-Rust Unit