Waterjet line brings speed and flexibility to EDM shops

Mitsubishi's new waterjet line is designed to work hand-inhand with EDM technology. According to the company, the Waterjet line brings speed and flexibility to EDM shops, while maintaining the level of reliability and accuracy required in EDM manufacturing. Mitsubishi personnel have played an active role in the Waterjet machines' design, making sure they're engineered specifically to work with EDM technology. The machine's speed is ideal for reducing production times attached to roughing and bulk material removal before finishing on EDM. For example, a time study showed a 28% time savings on materials roughed with Waterjet versus an EDM machine. The Waterjet series is available in three different models: The 2-3 axis Classica features 2D CAD-CAM software with nesting capabilities, and accuracy and repeatability of +/- 0.004-in. The 4-axis Suprema features (ITC) Intelligent Tapering Control, which corrects cut tapering automatically and achieves ±0.001-in. wall straightness in half inch thick steel. The CNC tilts the high-pressure water jet ±2°, allowing for increased cutting speeds in a contour. Last, but not least, the 5-axis Evolution 3D System uses a self-positioning rotation point device on the material to automatically maintain a constant distance from the nozzle to the workpiece. This protects the nozzle through a working range from flat work to a contoured interpolation of ±69° All machines feature stainless steel tanks for easier maintenance and cleaner cutting conditions. A solid base construction and custom-made table for accepting tooling systems allows Waterjet and EDM to easily work together. The Waterjet line is powered by Mitsubishi Electric and the Mitsubishi 700 Series Control is designed to improve productivity and operating comfort. In addition, a dedicated Nano control helps achieve high-precision machining. The unit is controlled on a 15-in. water-proof screen, with improved graphics and NC design to simplify operation. MC Machinery Systems, Inc. Wood Dale, IL mitsubishi-world.com