Wire EDM Parameters
The following parameters are specific to Wire EDM NC sequences. They are listed under a heading corresponding to the name of the branch when you set up the parameters.
For description of the common manufacturing parameters, available for all the NC sequence types, see the topic Common NC Sequence Parameters. Follow the link under See Also to access this topic.
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• You must supply a value for all parameters that have a default of –1 (this means that the default value is not set by the system).
• Length units for the NC sequence parameters (where applicable) are the same as the units of the workpiece.
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Search by Category
Cutting Motions
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AUTO_CORNER_TYPE
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Specify the default option for automatically created corner conditions:
• RADIUS—Create round corner motions for concave and convex corners. This is the default.
• STRAIGHT—Create a corner by extending straight segments until they intersect.
• CHAMFER—Chamfer the corners.
• BISECT— Bisect the corners.
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CORNER_PASSES
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Specify on which passes to create the automatic corner conditions:
• ALL_PASSES—On all passes.
• FIRST_PASS—On the first pass only.
• LAST_PASS—On the last pass only.
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APPROXIMATE_SPLINES
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Indicate whether you want to approximate spline edges with arcs when creating CL data output. The default value is NO; if you specify a value of YES, the spline edges will be approximated.
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AUTOSYNCH_START_END
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Enables automatic synchronization of the start and end points of a 4 Axis Wire EDM cut motion:
• YES—The two heads will be automatically synchronized at the beginning and the end of each cut.
• NO—The start and end points of the upper and lower contours will be mapped by cut entities; therefore, the upper and lower contours will have different start and end points in XY.
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Cut Depth and Allowances
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STOCK_ALLOW
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The amount of stock left after the NC sequence. The default is not set (displayed as "–1").
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CORNER_LENGTH
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Defines the size (the side length) of the parallelograms added to the tool path when corner condition is specified. The default is 0.
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CORNER_ANGLE
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For a sharp corner, the angle of the parallelogram equals the angle between the adjoining entities, and the CORNER_ANGLE value is ignored. However, if you add a corner condition between two tangent entities, the angle of the parallelogram will be defined by the CORNER_ANGLE parameter. The default is 0.
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CONCAVE_RADIUS
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Specifies the radius for a concave corner condition.
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CONVEX_RADIUS
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Specifies the radius for a convex corner condition.
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ATTACH_WIDTH
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Specifies a distance along a Contouring cut motion that is not to be cut, leaving the two sides of the cut attached by a small tab of material.
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STOP_DIST
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Distance before the end of the cut motion where the system will place a CL stop command (STOP or OPSTOP, depending on the END_STOP_CONDITION parameter value). This enables the operator to clamp the part before it is cut free and falls away. After the clamp is in place, the tool completes the trajectory. If the tool path consists of more than one pass, the stop point is located on the first pass only.
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DETACH_STOP_DIST
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Distance before the end of the Detach move where the system will place a CL stop command (STOP or OPSTOP, depending on the END_STOP_CONDITION parameter value).
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END_OVERTRAVEL
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Overtravel distance past the end of the cut motion. If the cut motion consists of more than one pass, the overtravel distance is applied according to the END_OVERTRAVEL_PASS parameter value.
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REVERSE_DIST
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Distance from end to reverse for multiple passes.
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NUM_PROF_PASSES
Number of passes for a Finish cut motion.
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PROF_INCREMENT
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Increment for each Finish pass (unless this data is specified in the register table).
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STEP_OVER
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Controls the lateral depth of cut for No Core Wire EDM. The STEP_OVER must be a positive value less than the cutter diameter. The default is not set (displayed as "–1").
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TOOL_OVERLAP
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Another way to control the lateral depth of cut for No Core Wire EDM. TOOL_OVERLAP indicates the amount that the tool should overlap the region machined during the previous pass. The default is a dash (-). TOOL_OVERLAP must be less than the tool diameter. If TOOL_OVERLAP is specified and STEP_OVER is not, the lateral depth of cut will be calculated as (CUTTER_DIAM –TOOL_OVERLAP).
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Feeds and Speeds
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ARC_FEED
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Allows you to control the cut feed around arcs. If set to a dash (-) (which is the default), the CUT_FEED value will be used. If set to 0, the RAPID statement will be output before the CIRCLE statement.
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Machine Settings
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SPARK_ALLOW
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Together with STOCK_ALLOW and the tool parameter CUTTER_DIAM, defines the trajectory of the center of the tool with respect to desired geometry. The default is 0.
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CL_DIST
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Value to be output to the CL_DIST command in the CL data.
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TAPER_ANGLE
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Value of the machine controlled taper angle (applicable for 2-Axis Wire EDM only).
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CL_OUTPUT_MODE
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Defines the CL output format for the tool axis:
• MULTAX_DATA (default)—The CL output will be in XYZ / IJK format.
• TAPER—The CL output will use the STAN statement.
Applicable for 4-Axis Wire EDM only.
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CUT_MOTION_CONNECT
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Controls the Connect moves between multiple cut motions:
• CUT_WIRE (default)—The wire is cut at the end of the cut motion. If the wire is disengaged between cut motions, the tool moves at RAPID feed.
• CONTINIOUS—Do not unload wire at the end of cut motion. If the wire is engaged between cut motions, the tool moves at CUT_FEED.
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CUTCOM_MOVE
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If this parameter is set to a non-zero value, it will allow the tool to move away from the specified tool path by this distance in the direction of the tool offset or Cutcom offset (whichever is applicable). Before each Cutcom move, the CUTCOM / OFF statement will be output. Then there will be new GENRTR, FLUSH, and CUTCOM statements for the next tool pass. At the end of a cut motion there will be a CUTCOM / OFF statement followed by exit motion for closed contours or by Cutcom move for open ones.
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CUTCOM_MOVE_APPROACH
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Specifies the length of linear move used to turn cutter compensation on or off for the first pass of a Contouring NC sequence (similar to CUTCOM_MOVE, described above).
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NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS
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Specifies if colinear points in approach and exit motions should be stripped or added. The values are:
• 0—Strip colinear points.
• 1—Do not strip colinear points, to allow proper implementation of Cutcom.
• n (where n is an integer)—The Approach, Exit, or Cutcom move will be divided into n equal segments by adding extra GOTO points.
The following illustration shows the number and location of GOTO points for the following NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS values:
• NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS 0 (colinear points stripped)—schematic on the left
• NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS 1—schematic in the middle
• NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS 2—schematic on the right  1. 1st GOTO point 2. 2nd GOTO point 3. 3rd GOTO point 4. 4th GOTO point 5. Approach move 6. Cut motion 7. Part |
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CUTCOM_LOC_APPR
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Specifies location of CUTCOM statement on the approach motion if multiple cutcom points are specified. Cutcom points are numbered from 0 to n, where n is the value of NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS. The default is 1.
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CUTCOM_LOC_EXIT
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Specifies location of CUTCOM statement on the exit motion if multiple cutcom points are specified. Cutcom points are numbered from 0 to n, where n is the value of NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS. The default is 0.
The following illustrations shows the locations and numbering of cutcom points for approach and exit motions if NUMBER_CUTCOM_PTS is 2.  1. 1st GOTO point (cutcom point 0) 2. 2nd GOTO point (cutcom point 1) 3. 3rd GOTO point (cutcom point 2) 4. 4th GOTO point 5. 5th GOTO point 6. 6th GOTO point (cutcom point 0) 7. 7th GOTO point (cutcom point 1) 8. 8th GOTO point (cutcom point 2) 9. Approach move 10. Cut motion 11. Exit move 12. Part |
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CUTCOM_REG_START
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Initial cutter compensation controller register number.
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CUTCOM_REG_INCR
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Increment of cutcom register for a multi-pass tool path.
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FLUSH_REG_START
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Initial flush register number.
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FLUSH_REG_INCR
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Increment of flush register for a multi-pass tool path.
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FLUSH_REG_APPROACH
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Number of flush register for the approach move.
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FLUSH_REG_DETACH
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Number of flush register for the detach move.
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GENRTR_ROUGH
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Power setting of the machine for the rough pass.
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GENRTR_APPROACH
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Power setting of the machine for the approach motion.
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GENRTR_DETACH
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Power setting of the machine for the detach motion.
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GENRTR_FINISH
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Initial power setting of the first finish pass.
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GENRTR_REG_INCR
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Increment of GENRTR command for subsequent finish passes.
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REGISTER_TABLE
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Specify the name of the register table to be used. The default is a dash (-), in which case cutcom and generator will be determined using the appropriate parameters above.
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Entry/Exit Motions
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APPROACH_DISTANCE
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Specifies the length of approach motions for Customize. The default is 0.
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EXIT_DISTANCE
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Specifies the length of exit motions for Customize. The default is a dash (-), that is, 0.
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APPROACH_MOVE
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Allows you to specify if the Approach move will be created automatically. The default is YES. In order for the Approach move to be created, you have to also specify a Thread Point for the cut motion.
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RETURN_TO_START
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If set to YES (the default is NO), the wire will return to the start point upon completing the cut motion. Applicable to No Core cut motions only.
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LEAD_IN
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If set to YES, the system will create a Lead In motion automatically on all passes of a multi-pass cut motion. The default is NO.
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LEAD_OUT
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If set to YES, the system will create a Lead Out motion automatically on all passes of a multi-pass cut motion. The default is NO.
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LEAD_RADIUS
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The radius of the tangential circular movement of the tool when leading in or out. The default is 0.
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TANGENT_LEAD_STEP
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The length of the linear movement that is tangent to the circular lead-in or lead-out motion. The default is 0.
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NORMAL_LEAD_STEP
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The length of the linear movement that is normal to the tangent portion of the lead-in or lead-out motion. The default is 0.
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END_OVERTRAVEL_PASS
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Specifies on which passes of a multi-pass motion to create an overtravel motion:
• NO—No overtravel motion is created (the default).
• ALL_PASSES—On all passes.
• LAST_PASS—On the last pass only.
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