CAM application automates programming and electrode manufacture

SDK Electrode from Vero has produced an 80 per cent time saving for die sinking programming and electrode manufacture. SDK Electrode is created by assembling and adjusting some modules that already existed within the VISI-Series product range. The first step is to identify the erosion area, to extract the electrodes, define the stock and create a link with the electrode holder and to check for any potential collision with the workpiece. When the electrodes construction has been completed, it is then necessary to set up the production process. Using SDK Electrode, the operator creates the production job order, defining the geometry, the position of the electrodes and the stock data (material, gap, pallet, etc). At this point stock cutting operations and electrodes milling operations are produced directly by the machine operator. All toolpath calculations, ISO files and documentation are produced automatically by predefined macros running inside CAM package machining STRATEGIST. Once milling operations have been completed, SDK Electrode assembles the individual electrode ISO files and checks for collision between tool movements and electrodes sizes, ultimately configuring the pallet structure. SDK Electrode defines the tools warehouse, assigns the technology conditions and arranges the work sequence providing complete automatic programming of the die sinking machine. The final result is not only the automatic generation of command and technology files but also the production of the machine equipment layout, configurations and the position lists.