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The AgieCharmilles Laser 1000 5Ax produces textures and other surface characteristics using the laser ablation process.
GF AgieCharmilles, a provider of wire and die-sinking electrical discharge machining (EDM) systems, thee- and five-axis milling machines and laser texturing technology, is showcasing how it can help a manufacturing company improve its part processing in Booth S-8754. The booth is divided into three sections—aerospace, medical/dental, and mold and die.
In the medical/dental area, visitors can watch three different technologies work together to produce intricate, complex knee implants. Applications engineers are available in each section of the booth to consult with visitors. Furthermore, each machine will have its own QR code that can be scanned for pertinent machine information.
One of the highlights of the aerospace section is the new FM300 die sinker with the GFAC Form HMI CNC, and a System 3R WPT1+ robotic automation system. The machine and robot are using the MTConnect communication standard to exchange data and share results across a network. This setup demonstrates the precise, highly efficient machining of aerospace-related components from titanium alloys and stainless steel. Also in this section is a CUT200 P wire EDM machine with a B axis. It is cutting aerospace alloy fir tree disks while using an integrated measuring probe and supporting software for in-process inspection of the part.
The medical/dental section is interesting because it shows subtractive and additive processes working together. For example, a Mikron HPM 450U machining center is linked to an EOS direct metal laser sintering (DLMS) machine via an integrated pallet changer to demonstrate the precise, efficient machining of a tibial implant. The HPM 450U features a new rotary/tilt table for unencumbered, interference-free five-axis machining. Nearby is a CUT 2000 wire-cutting EDM with an automatic wire changer for cutting medical parts with clean surface finishes. It uses brass wire for rough cutting and molybdenum wire for the finishing cut.
In the mold and die section, there is a demonstration of the CUT 1000 OilTech wire EDM that shows how cutting of a carbide fineblanking die can run for more than 20 hours without corrosion forming on the part. This is due to the oil that acts as an inert dielectric. The oil also enables smaller distances between the wire and workpiece to produce tighter internal radii when compared to water-based machining.
A particularly fascinating part of this section is the Laser 1000 5Ax with an integrated pallet changer for producing complex 3D textures on airbag molds and other automotive applications. The machine provides a digital manufacturing process that yields detailed and nuanced texturing, microstructuring, engraving, marking and labeling.
Also throughout the booth, visitors can learn how the company’s Uptime program can keep them at the highest levels of productivity by offering applications expertise, comprehensive training, technical assistance, preventive maintenance, warranty protection, parts and consumables.
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