The FI 2050 TWO is a high-performance wire EDM machine that uses oil as a dielectric, instead of water, and is equipped with GF AgieCharmilles' ultra-productive Twin-Wire technology.
The combination of the two technologies means that manufacturers can avoid workpiece surface corrosion problems (usually associated with water-based dielectric), and still achieve fast removal rates, by using large diameter wires, for rough cutting operations.
For manufacturers making high-precision, complex parts and tools (ie, sintering dies, micro-connectors etc.), the TWO machines deliver the optimum solution. Workpieces are not affected by corrosion when oil is used;oil provides excellent surface finishes (Ra 0.05 µm);sharper workpiece features and details (ie, internal radii) are more easily machined and achieved when oil is used, owing to the smaller spark gap and the required between the workpiece and wire; and the usual trade-off of lower performance, seen in lower cutting speeds, is offset by the twin-wire capability of the machine.
Twin-wire functionality means that cheaper, large diameter (0.2 mm) wires can be used for rough cutting operations which, results in faster machining, while for trim cuts and finishing cuts, smaller diameter wires (0.05 mm) are used – with the change between different diameter wires occurring automatically.
The 2050 TWO is a large machine with X, y and Z-axis travels of 320, 220 and 160 mm, respectively.
The machine, as well as having twin-wire and automatic wire change capability, also has a number of other intelligent software features, such as Automatic Wire Thread (AWT) and Thermocut (for threading micro-holes) etc, which enable the FI 2050 TWO to support reliable, unattended extended running.