How Many of you program for Wire EDM's with FeatureCAM?

I have a guy that is going to retire in a year or so and I don't want to have to learn another Software Package.

He is using DP Esprit and it has been years since I touched it.

We have two Elox Wire machines and a fairly new SoDick Wire Machine to program for.

How hard is it to program the wire machines?

I realize it's an endless cut as much as possible anyway.

I believe the SoDick has auto cut and rethread of wire.

How is FeatureCAM on outputting the wire speed?

And does it change feedrates in Arcs and corners automatically or is that left to you?

Same with Wire Angle?

DO I need more experience to handle this?

I am just looking for some info before I get stuck with these three machines to add to the 67 machines I have now.

Thanks, In Advance

Mohawk

I have programmed wire EDM machines with FeatureCAM for a few years now. It is very easy to do. A basic program can be completed in as little as fifteen minutes depending on the complexity. The ELOX machines take the programs without a problem. I don’t know what model you are using but I have no problems running FeatureCam programs on the ELOX. Auto cut and rethread functions are posted out between moves and you don’t even have to think about it most of the time.

Are you using glued stops?

How do you tab the parts?

Normally I do not use the default “punch” feature. I draw out my tabs because a lot of times I like to double tab the part and set the contours as sides. This gives me control of where my lead-in and lead-out will occur. I put all of my cutting data into the FeatureCam database so it is not necessary for me to manually set the cutting data every time. Wire angle is also very easy. I simply set the taper and may need to set the reference planes manually depending on the height of the part, but other than that, making a wire EDM program is simple.

On most of my machines I have what they call geometry protection strategy. This is when the machine will slow down automatically to protect the corners. The ELOX that I run dose not have this function, and I only cut parts that need a tolerance no less than .001.

Let me know if you have any other questions or if you need help with a post file. I have written post files for several machines and a few macros for the wire EDM.

Thanks for the input Robert.

It hasn't happened yet but I can see it will down the road and I just didn't want to have to use another software package to pick up those Wire EDM machines.

When it happens, I am sure I will be in touch with you all asking questions.

Right now, my plate is full enough I can't afford to dig in and play some.

Thanks for the reply.

Mohawk

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Thanks for the information



That's a good help



Thanks again