×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

methodology for wedm block modeling

methodology for wedm block modeling

methodology for wedm block modeling

(OP)
For those of you that WEDM flat parts from wedm plates, I've been struggling with a methodology on how best to model and make drawings of this. Here is what I came up with so far, but it's painfull

1 I have 10 parts the same thickness with fancy outer shapes and many holes in each. Everything will be WEDM'ed
2 I create a wedm block part, just a rectangular plate large enough to layout all 10 parts in and the same thickness as my parts.
3 I create an assembly model and insert the WEDM plate into it
4 I insert all 10 parts into the assembly and mate them from the plate surface and edges to positions appropriate for WEDM
5 Most of these parts have subsequent machining done after WEDM, but the individual parts are modeled complete. So when I insert them into my WEDM assembly model it doesn't make sense. (like putting the cart before the horse)
6 So I made WEDM configurations within each part model to suppress all sculpting of its features except for the outside shape. Then in my WEDM assembly I turn on the WEDM configuration. Now the assembly model and drawing looks correct.
7 finally, I have to add incontext WEDM start holes in the assembly for each part model.

So doeas this sound like I'm on the right track? or maybe there is a much better simpler way. This isn't difficult, but it is time consuming. The biggest problem is if I have to make positional adjustments to the parts in the WEDM plate design. I have to edit all the distance mates.

Tom...

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: methodology for wedm block modeling

There isn't any nesting program available?  We don't use wire EDM, but we do have a 3.5kw laser.  It uses a nesting program to place different parts on the same sheet, arranged in a manner to reduce scrap.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: methodology for wedm block modeling

(OP)
MadMango, your nesting program, does it use the solid model or 2d geometry?
We have many seats of Autocad in house and I could easily auto-nest or at least quickly manipulate the geometry using Autocads functionality (stretch / move. direct distance input), but I want to do this entirely within SolidWorks..
So I'm really looking for Solidworks methodology help rather than how to get the job done using any means possible..
thanks for your input

tom..

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: methodology for wedm block modeling

I have done laser parts by making an assembly configuration that matches the plastic sheet the way I want to cut. I export a dxf and open it in Corel for the actual cutting since SW is not on the machine that drives the laser. This is a pita. winky smile
To eliminate the extra cutting, I change line colors and set the color I want to cut to high power and slow speed, then others to low/no power and high speed, or hide them. I have cut parts and engraved text on them and marked hole locations at the same time by using different colors and low power to just mark the surface.
Crashj "more crude stuff"

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2005 SP 4.0 (reluctant to change)
Matrox Millenium G550
AMD Athalon 1.8 GHz 512 Meg RAM

RE: methodology for wedm block modeling

tmalinksi ... when you get to step 4, instead of inserting the part 10 times, just insert it once and then do a Componenet Pattern.

Also if you create one start hole first & then pattern it, you could use that pattern when creating the Component Pattern. Then if you need to make positional adjustments, all you need do is adjust the hole pattern in the WEDM Plate.

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: methodology for wedm block modeling

(OP)
CorBlimeyLimey
Sorry if I wasn't clear, but the 10 parts are all different. The only thing that is common is the thickness

Tom..

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: methodology for wedm block modeling

Ahah ... that would change things. smile

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources