MoldMaking Technology

FEB 2018

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moldmakingtechnology.com 15 A proprietary, no-button, release-by-touch feature is an option on some presetter machines. accurately assign cost to time, it also must factor in items like rent, electricity, depreciation and support staff. Through this lens, a shop can get a true snapshot of the opportunity cost. In this case, the opportunity cost is the value or profit that a company forfeits when the machine sits idle for setup. Set Up a Better Way It is not possible to eliminate this idle time. But, shops can reduce it using tool presetters. High-quality tool presetters enable shops to take fast, accurate and repeatable measure- ments for each tool offline. This capability makes it possible for machinists to set tools while the machine is still running, which reduces idle time and increases cost efficiency in the shop. In addition to time and accuracy, the nature of presetting inher- ently promotes greater emphasis on best practices on ideal ways to store and measure tools. Toolboxes and drawers with random tooling ultimately migrate to more centralized tool- management areas. The important attributes of a presetter are: 1. Accuracy. In the era of Industry 4.0, presetters should be able to maintain repeatable measuring accuracy of 5 microns or better. This usually means that the system should be equipped with an optical measuring device, which is more accurate than physical contact (or indicator) devices. 2. Repeatability. It is not just a function of measuring accu- racy, but also of thermal stability. Presetters that use multiple material types in their base construction are more prone to non- uniform thermal expansion in the shop environment, which can require daily, repeated calibrations to output repeatable measurements. Shaping the future of EDM Made in U.S.A. It's Time to Make the Switch to Top Performing DS4 Ultra-Fine EDM Graphite Now, you've really got a choice in EDM graphite for your most challenging machining operations. Mersen's DS4, featuring the DarkStar ultra-fine carbon particle, is a proven winner that delivers unmatched EDM performance. It's time to start saving money in EDM… ask your EDM distributor for DS4! "Our detailed engraving of molds and stamping dies demands an EDM electrode that provides excellent durability and delivers sharp corners and fine quality. We switched from the leading ultra-fine EDM graphite to Mersen's DS4 and it really performs… and saved us money." – Bob Held Wisconsin Engraving edm.mersen.com

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