Wire EDM Machine Operation Chapter 12
Copyright November, 98 Page 12-6 Sodick Inc.
lying in the bin. CAUTION: If the pressure is decreased too much, the rollers cannot grip
the wire and the wire will slip. Watch the wire spool and verify it is rotating smoothly
and not jerking. Occasionally, trying a different wire may eliminate the curling problem.
Sodick also offers an optional wire chopper that chops the wire into small bits and drops
them into the wire bin thus eliminating wire curling in the bin.
WAY LUBRICATION:
The ways should be greased once a week with lithium grease. Sodick provides a grease
gun for this purpose. Locate the stickers on the machine that show where the grease
fittings are and pump the gun once for each fitting. Jog the axis it’s full travel to
distribute the grease. If unsure, See your “Machine Tool” manual.
AUTOMATIC WIRE THREADER:
The automatic wire threader (AWT) unit allows more unattended operation of the
machine. When multiple parts or openings are to be cut, the AWT unit can cut the wire,
the machine will move to another location and the AWT unit will thread the wire. This
eliminates the operator having to be present. Also if the wire breaks while cutting, the
machine will return to the start point location of the shape being cut, rethread the wire,
return to the location where the wire broke, lower the power setting so the wire doesn’t
break again and resume cutting. This rethread after wire break feature can be turned on
and off in the SET screen at the AWT REFERENCE parameter while cutting.
There are several items that should be maintained and adjustments that can be made to
assure reliable operation of the AWT unit. See page 12-11 for the alignment procedure
and pages 12-10 through 12-16 for information about parameters and adjustments that
affect the AWT unit.
There is a micro switch located next to the brass unit that secures the AWT pipe that
senses that the pipe has moved down. This switch signals the upper wire guide to open to
allow the pipe to pass through the upper head. There are 2 pulleys with a 2 piece belt
wrapped around them to pull the pipe up and down. If the belt gets kinked, it may not go
around the pulleys. A backup should be kept in stock in case the belt needs to be
replaced. The upper pulley is driven by an electric motor. The pipe travels down until it
contacts the stop block. This block is at a fixed location on the A320D. The water jet then
turns on and acts as a guide for the wire to follow. The drive rollers located above the
pipe feed the wire until it reaches the ejection rollers. The pipe then retracts and the brass
unit contacts the micro switch and the guide closes and the jet turns off. The AWT cycle
is now completed. At the rear of the upper head is a sensor with a red LED that senses
that the upper wire guide is truly closed and illuminates. The pipe can be removed by
removing the round nut at the top of the pipe. When it is reinstalled, the alignment
procedure on pg. 12-11 should be done or put a reference mark on the pipe and reinstall it
with the mark in the same location as before it was removed thus eliminating the
realignment procedure. The valve located on the front of the threader adjusts the amount
of flow spraying out of the pipe. The AWT column pressure knob located below the
resistivity meter affects the pressure going to the flow valve. Keep the knob all the way
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