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Software slashes electrode-design time

July 1, 2004
Plastic-component manufacturer Kunstsoff GmbH in Helmbrechts, Germany, was taking 3 as long to create EDM-electrode designs as it did to generate corresponding machining programs. This would not do for a shop that operates modern, expensive, high-speed ma

By incorporating PS-Electrode software, Kunstsoff GmbH reduces its electrode-design times by as much as 60%.

Plastic-component manufacturer Kunstsoff GmbH in Helmbrechts, Germany, was taking 3 as long to create EDM-electrode designs as it did to generate corresponding machining programs. This would not do for a shop that operates modern, expensive, high-speed machines that it wants running at full capacity all the time. By incorporating PS-Electrode software, the shop reduces electrode-design times by up to 60%. This is a huge annual savings when considering the shop produces an average of 40 electrodes for each of the 100 to 120 prototype and production tools made yearly.

"Prior to PS-Electrode, machine operators worked from hand-to-mouth," explains Matthias Drechsler, CAM group leader at Kunstsoff. "They were constantly waiting for the next electrode to machine because the design process took so much time. Now, we have the fastest possible throughput — from electrode design and production through to hard machining of inserts. The software's automatic production of setup sheets plays an important role in this."

Kunstsoff runs its PSElectrode-designed electrodes on such diesinking EDMs as the Agietron Innovation 3. The machine handles six tool pallets and up to 144 electrodes weighing a maximum of 13 kg.

Delcam Inc.
Windsor, Ont.
delcam.com