At Control 2014 Alicona Manufacturing and machine manufacturer Makino presented a high- precision electrical discharge machine (EDM) based upon True Adapt Closed-Loop Manufacturing technology as developed through the collaboration of Austrian based Alicona Imaging GmbH and US based EDM Department. The state-of-the-art machining centre with integrated 3D measurement centre offers an end-to-end solution for production as it allows self-optimised performance through high-resolution, non-contact 3D metrology fully integrated into a precision machine tool. This new processing method eliminates clamping errors and has the potential to increase machining accuracy fourfold within EDM, grinding, laser and milling industries.
Formed through the collaboration of optical metrology expert Alicona Imaging and manufacturing specialist EDM Department, Alicona Manufacturing debuted the latest generation of EDM machining centres in May 2014. At Control 2014, Alicona Manufacturing and machine manufacturer Makino together brought this manufacturing generation to the next level through the presentation of a unique combination of high-resolution optical 3D measurement technology and automated machine programing. Based upon an “Industry 4.0” or “Smart Manufacturing”, Alicona Manufacturing is setting the trend of integrated manufacturing by offering a novel production system where components are measured directly inside the machine. The
internal measurement evaluates possible deviations from the target geometry and reports them directly to the machine, which eliminates the need to remove parts for measurement. Based upon the internal evaluation, the machine automatically modifies the process parameters for further manufacturing. As a result of this closed loop “processing- measuring-modifying-processing”, users experience up to four times the accuracy in comparison with traditional measurement methods.