Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Software for wire EDM control?

Hi Tony,

Yeah, I figured that out after reading the next (Fred's) post. I was
thinking of sinker (probe) EDM.

As I think Fred was saying, Vector can generate the XY UV code, so I
would think that a "foam cutter" (hot wire) program could make the
coordinated moves.

Here's a foam cutting site I find interesting:

http://gm.cnc.free.fr/index_en.html

For coordinated XY and UV moves, two sets of 2D calculations would have
to be performed. A *LITTLE* more work, and a little different then the
standard 2D or 3D controllers can handle.

Does anything else have to be done while moving the wire to service the
sparks like in sinker EDM?

Guess I wasn't much much help! But the "math" of the motion control is
interesting to me. Who knows, if my kids decide they want to cut foam
for model airplanes...

Best regards,

Alan KM6VV


Tony Jeffree wrote:

>
> Hi Alan -
>
> Not quite, I'm afraid. What I am talking about is *wire* EDM - imagine a
> cheese cutter wire held top & bottom, being used to take a slice through a
> metal part. Rather a different (although in some ways related) problem, as
> the NC has to be able to control the X/Y position of *both ends* of the
> wire, not just the Z position of a point electrode.
>
> Regards,
> Tony
>
> At 10:44 29/07/2003 -0700, you wrote:
> >Hi Tony,
> >
> >Interesting question. What would you have the EDM electrode do? I
> >haven't followed EDM too closely, but for hobby use, it would seem that
> >the electrode (held in the spindle), would be brought down to the work,
> >spark started, then the electrode would have to be advanced as it
> >burned. Some sort of pocket routine? And I've heard of backing off the
> >electrode in the maintenance of the spark. That would require some sort
> >of feedback. Sounds like a good candidate for a canned cycle.
> >Something that could be added to TurboCNC, in my opinion.
> >
> >Don't know if this helps, just speculating.
> >
> >Alan KM6VV
> >
> >
> >Tony Jeffree wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks - I know that some of the CAM systems like Dolphin out there support
> > > wire EDM, but that wasn't the question I was asking. I am specifically
> > > interested in the *control* end of the problem rather than the CAM - i.e.,
> > > whether there is the equivalent of Turbo CNC, Mach1, etc.. that has been
> > > developed to support the construction of a CNC control for wire EDM.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Tony
>
> Regards,
> Tony