PLASMA™ Hybrid-Coated EDM Wire in use test by Clippard based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
CLIPPARD USES GIP HYBRID PLASMA™ COATED BRASS WIRE FOR EDM OPERATIONS, REALIZES 15 to 20% IMPROVEMENT IN SPEED
Market leader in high-precision pneumatic valves and other components machines 316SS and other materials, achieving better finish in less time with reduced power and less wire breakage, due to proprietary product from Global Innovative Products
Clippard (Cincinnati, Ohio) is a world leader in fluid control products and other high-precision components, and the company prides itself on having been vertically integrated for decades, since its founding in 1941. The company operates two ISO certified manufacturing locations in Ohio and does advanced machining of all types to produce its extensive catalog of standard and custom product solutions for a myriad of markets worldwide. At the heart of its machining capabilities are 12-axis CNC Swiss machines, CNC milling centers and CNC wire EDM’s, plus numerous post-finishing operations, including anodizing, EN plating and thermal deburring. Various metal and thermoplastic materials are machined.
Recently, after extensive discussions with a local EDM supply distributor, a proprietary hybrid coated brass wire was presented to the Clippard Director of Operations, Robin Rutschilling and his CNC/EDM Programmer, Trevor McCoy by Barry Ramsay of Global Innovative Products (hereafter GIP), a Mason, Ohio supplier of consumables for EDM shops through their GIP distributor network, who also produces a variety of its own products for need-specific operations in electrical discharge machining. One such product is a PLASMA™ hybrid coated brass wire, comprising of a gamma-phase intermetallic zinc alloy coated wire with brass core. This proprietary GIP innovation had proven out in numerous lab testings but needed “real world” production validation. Barry Ramsay and GIP application engineer Brad Hansard approached the team at Clippard.
Clippard uses wire EDM for the production of many components, including the tooling used in its conventional machine shops. All EDM work at Clippard is performed for internal production purposes, so one-offs are common, making speed a critical factor for the department
As the product had been found suitable for all types of wire machines, with excellent auto-threading capability and increased performance, even at conventional brass wire settings, Ramsay felt confident the product would outperform what Clippard was currently using in its EDM shop, including other GIP wire. This new product was being offered in 0.008”, 0.010” and 0.012” (20mm, 25mm and 30mm) diameters, so Ramsay proposed giving the Clippard EDM department a supply for testing on one of its Fanuc wire machines.
Gamma phase brass is a brittle intermetallic alloy (Cu5Zn8) with a high zinc content (approximately 65% Zn) which can also be synthesized by a diffusion anneal. However, when such coatings are wire drawn subsequent to the diffusion anneal, the coating will fracture due to its brittleness and redistribute around the wire circumference creating a discontinuous layer sometimes described as a “porous layer”, which promotes turbulent flow enhancing the flushing of debris. However, it is zinc enrichment created at the surface combined with the elevated melting point of CuZn gamma phase (approximately 800ºC/1472ºF) which are the biggest factors contributing to the performance of Gamma Phase Brass coated wire.
The arrangement between the two companies actually began in a somewhat unconventional manner, as Trevor McCoy relates. “We have an Ocean hole popper (electrode/sinker EDM) and the circuit boards needed repair. Brad was able to do that kind of work, which I knew from previous experiences with him. So, he proposed exchanging the board servicing for the opportunity to test the GIP hybrid PLASMA™ wire. Seemed reasonable to us, so we agreed.” The FANUC wire EDM in the shop at Clippard seemed an ideal candidate for GIP, as well, as Barry Ramsay notes, “We knew they were running all types of materials and some very high-precision tooling used in their own machine shop for the production of various pneumatic components with very tight tolerances. It seemed a very good place to test our new wire, which had been proven out on our own EDM’s at GIP.” He further says it was a handshake deal, a “classic collaboration between two companies for their mutual benefit,” adding that application engineering supplied by GIP further enhanced the use of the product at Clippard, as the test learning process information was shared without reservation, so both companies benefited.
PLASMA™ Hybrid-Coated EDm Wire
In this test case, many of the components were being run for the production of special parts being produced by Clippard for robotic arm articulation.
The testing immediately yielded positive results, as McCoy notes they were holding tolerances under a tenth, with a microfinish that was very important for the application. “We do a lot of custom work for our own use, over 50% of my production in EDM. Some of the hard tool steels are difficult to drill and we also run various others. The jobs require a lot of setup time and fixturing, so run time, finish and wire breaks all are critical for us.”
Trevor McCoy, CNC/EDM programmer at Clippard, runs a FANUC wire EDM with the GIP proprietary PLASMA™ coated brass wire. McCoy states he achieves better finish with 15 to 20% improvement in run time. (machine hood open only for photo purpose)
The goals for this proprietary wire testing were three, according to Barry Ramsay. “The characteristics of the PLASMA™ wire in production on the FANUC machine at Clippard were important, as the flushing of their precision components directly impacts quality. Further, we had our own test results galore but needed an outside house to validate what we were seeing. Lastly, we just wanted to help our friends at Clippard, who had been so cooperative and, in this case, needed our help with those circuit boards. It was a classic win-win for both of us, as all three goals were met.”
Multiple parts were EDM’d during the testing of this PLASMA™ wire, with full comparative data tracked on the test wire vs. conventional brass. One tool for a medical part was produced, for example, in :56 vs. 1:05 with five skim passes, a 16% improvement in overall production. McCoy notes, “We could apply more power to run faster. The GIP product consistently outperforms premium brass, based on my experience with both now.” He also cited a very practical advantage. “The PLASMA™ wire is as clean as conventional brass.” Ramsay adds the price point is also competitive, so there’s less of a premium to achieve these enhanced results.
Clippard is a third-generation, family-owned and operated company that has developed many pneumatic components for a variety of applications in industry, commercial and even fun applications. Clippard’s Chief Marketing Officer, Rob Clippard, developed this “air guitar” that operates with the company’s pneumatic valves and cylinders. See it in performance of the classic Pachelbel Canon in D…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP73k0ZdxVM&t=60s. A wonderful intersection of music’s magic with the technology of one very creative company!
Chris Agricola, Advertising Manager at Clippard, also contributed to this story.
For more information, please contact:
Barry Ramsay
General Manager
GLOBAL INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS
7697 Innovation Way, Suite 200
Mason, OH 45050
Phone: 513-701-0441