Complete EDM

Precision Tooling For The Wire EDM Machine And Electrical Discharge Machine

The wire EDM and electrical discharge machine both require the use of precision tooling in order to produce the precision metal stamping dies and plastic mould components needed for industry. Without this tooling, the entire process just about comes to a halt.

The modern EDM department will be equipped with high quality inspection and set-up tooling. It makes no sense whatsoever to invest in a high end machine tool, such as a Charmilles-Agie Robofil wire EDM machine and skimp on the supporting tools.

EDM tooling

Two of the leading suppliers for EDM tooling are System 3R and Erowa. Both of these companies produce excellent products that will help to ensure the good outcome of your project.

Erowa has the MTS Zeropoint clamping system that makes workpiece holding a simple matter. I recall visiting their booth at the IMTS in Chicago and watching the man show how accurate the system was. Finally, after about 20 clampings of the pallet, I got the indicator to show how it was inaccurate. As it turned out, the indicator was calibrated in millionths of an inch! Oops!

System 3R has many types of electrode holders, some for tiny electrodes and others for huge ones. The macro junior and 3R Ready To Run are both very popular in mould making applications.

WEDM requires another style of workpiece holding than the sinker EDM. System 3R, Erowa and Hermann Schmidt are all top suppliers. The 3R Macro and 3Ruler are quite commonly used. The Erowa WEDM Tooling System has been in use for many years and is very reliable.

Hermann Schmidt makes a very useful tool, the Stainless Steel Precision Vise VO-4S that makes set up and operation a simple process.

The complete setup and inspection area

A properly equipped EDM set up and inspection area will have a large granite surface plate that is the true foundation of everything else. Starrett has a complete line of surface plates, such as the TruStone Technologies products.

A good surface gage with a tenth indicator is essential. Hermann Schmidt also makes one of the best surface gages on the market: Surface Gage MG-1.

There are many good dial indicators on the market, such as TesaTest indicators, Brown and Sharpe Best Test Indicator, Interapid, and Girod, which is carried by Fowler.

Other useful tools for inspection include pin gages, gage blocks, a coordinate measuring machine, optical comparator, toolmakers microscope, drop indicators and a sine plate.

You can get pin gages from Meyer or Vermont Gage and gage blocks from Starrett/Webber or Mitutoyo. Mitutoyo also is by far the most common toolmakers microscope maker. The drop indicators, or travel indicators, or available from Starrett, Brown and Sharpe and Chicago Dial Indicator, as well as other companies.

Scherr-Tumico and OGP make high quality optical comparators, and Micro-Vu offers a lower budget model. For sine plates, Hermann Schmidt is the best, with Suburban also making a good one.

Occasionally, there is a need for a tooling ball set. This can be a great way to reference your workpieces with the EDM electrode. A company called AnWright Corporation makes quality sets of tooling balls.