Page 16 - MetalForming Magazine June/July 2022 80th Anniversary Issue
P. 16
iWire from GF Machining Lets Shops
Adapt to Changing EDM-Cutting Conditions
The new iWire function from GF Machin- ing Solutions, Lincolnshire, IL, automatically identifies and adapts wire speed to chang- ing erosion-height conditions during the wire-EDM process. This capability helps to prevent wire breakage, say company
officials, while reducing overall wire con- sumption per job, in some instances by as much as 29 percent.
Featured on new GF Machining Solu- tions’ Cut P Pro Series wire EDMs, the iWire function works in tandem with the
Tech Update
and can even economically produce lot sizes of one, according to company officials. Noting specific trends in the automotive industry, such as growing design complexity and increasing wheel size, along with rising cost pressures, Leifeld technical director Benedikt Nillies says: “With our market-leading technologies and machines, we can form vehicle rims from cast alu- minum in such a way that they are con- siderably lighter than conventional wheels
and at the same time stronger.” Compared to aluminum rims cast or forged as single pieces, flow forming improves the material’s grain structure, significantly increasing final rim strength after heat treatment. “We have the pos- sibility of reducing the material cross sec- tion at certain points and flexibly adapting it to the load requirements of the wheels,” says Nillies. “With this process, we achieve a better grain structure.” The resultant increase in strength also makes it possible to minimize material thickness. Wall thick- nesses and wheel geometries can be optimally adapted to the wheel require- ments, allowing for flexible wheel design
and maximum weight savings.
With the WSC Flex process, the user
can produce different rim diameters, pro- files, wall thicknesses, and rim widths. Whereas classic flow forming uses one tool per rim type, the WSC Flex uses no tools whatsoever—no setup times and no product-specific tooling costs.
Leifeld Metal Spinning: www.wsc-flex.com
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