Page 55 - Fall 2023 EDM Today

up to 12-inch diameter tools, and lasers have EDM Today Magazine
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WHY THE WIRE?

The decision to invest in a Wire EDM machine
was a process of elimination, as Ron added,
“We looked at all the options and vendors out
there. We considered laser, but the size range
of laser machines didn’t fi t our needs. We
manufacture everything from micro-tools right
capacity limitations – so it wasn’t the right
time for a laser. We also looked at erosion
some pretty extreme angles which gives us EDM Today Magazine
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machines like the VOLLMER QXD. Disc
erosion provides exceptional surface fi nish-
es, but we decided upon a Wire machine and
without doubt, it had to be a VOLLMER.”
Discussing the selection of the VPulse 500
that was delivered in March 2023, Ron indi-
cated, “One of the main reasons we opted for
the VPulse 500 is the horizontal orientation of
the wire. We can orientate the cutting head to

incredible fl exibility. It also prevents collisions
with other tips on the tools. Furthermore, we
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can erode chips out of existing tools.”

VPULSE – A NEW GENERATION

Of course, surface fi nishes on the cutting
edges of tools can be critical to tool life
and machining performance, and here the
new VPulse 500 exceeds the performance
of alternate machines with its VPulse EDM
generator technology that is seen on a Wire
EDM machine for the fi rst time. Ron added,
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“Compared to VOLLMER Wire EDM machines
that we have had in the past, the new VPulse
EDM generator is 25% to 30% faster than its
The VOLLMER VPulse 500 Wire erosion machine
predecessor. Not only is the machine more
at Hunter Precision Tool
productive and more powerful, but we can
achieve much sharper edge and surface
fi nishes, which improves the performance of our tools for the customer. When it comes to machining materials like
composites, this edge fi nish and tool sharpness make a huge difference. In our geographical location, there are a lot
of kitchen and RV manufacturers that demand ultra-sharp cutting tools for wood and composite machining where
impeccable surface fi nishes are required – with the VPulse we can deliver the best tools with exceptional fi nishes.
The effi ciency of the generator also reduces the cost per hour of the machine.”

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AUTOMATION

Since its installation in March, the VPulse 500 has been running around the clock, 24/7. To enable this, Hunter
Precision purchased the VPulse 500 with the HR automation system that can accommodate 16 tools with a
maximum diameter of up to 12 inches and an overall length of up to 19.6 inches. Looking at the throughput of tools
on the new machine, Ron continued, “We will often do complex tools manually on the VOLLMER through the day and
then run the lights-out to optimize our output. The majority of our tools are 1-offs with some series runs, and tool
cycle times can range from 1 to 15+ hours depending upon the complexity of the tool. The layout of the machine
and loader is ergonomically friendly and this gives our team great access to the work area for challenging tools.
We have also fi lled the machine with a high quality dielectric fl uid from Blaser that has an extremely high fl ash point
to add process security to our lights-out production.”
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EDM Today, Fall 2023 Issue