Hybrid Wire EDM

The Hybrid Wire EDM machine is a combination of Sodick's wire EDM and Flow International waterjet technology. Wire EDMs have limited cutting speed due to the size of wire electrode while waterjet machines have limited cutting accuracy due to the waterjet itself. Sodick's Hybrid Wire overcomes these limitations by combining the strength of the waterjet's cutting speed and the wire EDM's cutting accuracy. The machine's cutting speed and accuracy is further increased with Sodick's linear motor axis drives. Linear motor drives enhance the waterjet's cutting speed since they have higher axis speed (1,440"/min) and acceleration (1.2G) when compared to a ballscrew driven machine. Sodick incorporated their own Intelligent Qvic control technology that controls both the waterjet and the EDM process. A 3D CAD file can be imported into the Hybrid's control and automatically converted to NC code for both the waterjet and the EDM process. The Hybrid Wire EDM can be operated in three different modes. As a waterjet only machine, it can cut non-conductive materials. It can also be used as a wire EDM only or the combination of the two technologies resulting in maximum productivity. Using a die plate as an example, the waterjet can machine start holes into a die plate and rough the part out at 130"²/hr. Live IMTS Hybrid presentations will take place on the hour.

Also on display at the Sodick booth: the new AD325L wire EDM, the nano precision AZ150 HSM and a 5-Axis HSM will make their debut at IMTS 2008.

IMTS BOOTH D-4000
Sodick, Inc.
Schaumburg, IL
sodick.com