Hi again tlmkr38:
My experience with different brands of EDM machines is not very wide, but on all I have run, the most common command to run a simple non-varying taper is created by inserting a taper command word into the beginning of the code string and a taper cancel word into the end of the code string.
On my Chmer machine which will run from the code created by a standard Fanuc post, the command to begin the taper is "A" followed by the taper angle desired (positive or negative value depending on whether you want the big end at the top or bottom of the part.
Taper cancel is "A0".
Every different machine brand seems to use its own unique word, so "A" may or may not work on your Fanuc.
For the majority of taper work on punch dies this is how it's done by pretty much every machine I've seen code for.
There is another way however, and that is to write the code for the upper profile, write the code for the lower profile and stitch them together line by line.
This is called "Complex Upper And Lower" programming (by Sodick which was the machine on which I first learned it) and is used when the taper varies as you go around the profile.
I am not sure if every wire machine out there can do this but I see it relatively rarely in sample code so I suspect not.
In addition to the code, you also have to set up the machine, and this is typically done on some kind of taper setting screen in the control.
Using my Chmer again as an example, I have a taper set screen in which I can input first of all that there will be a taper, and what it's angle will be.
Then I can tell it how I want to instruct the machine, whether to use the "A" word, Complex Upper and Lower, or command the U and V axes directly.
Last I can tell it how far above the platen surface I want the taper to begin...you would think of this height as the die land height if you're making punch dies.
All of these commands are simple inputs and I believe all wires capable of cutting tapers will have a screen like this.
On my machine it is also possible to input much of this by writing it into the code instead of commanding it from the screen, but your machine may or may not be able to do this.
So that's really it: sounds terribly complicated but it's actually not too bad once you figure it out the first time.
For your stated purposes, you will likely stick to the simplest way which is to manually insert the taper commands into the G code your CAM system has spit out, find and edit the values on the taper command screen, simulate the code to be sure you commanded the taper in the proper direction (Big on top or small on top as you prefer for each job), and push the big green button.
Cheers
Marcus
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