FEATURES

Accuracy

With a digital readout system the position is accurately given by the display right in front of the operator, all the way down to 0.00005" (1 micron) depending on the linear encoder chosen. The linear encoder only registers actual machine movement, effectively eliminating backlash from the positioning process. No more guesswork! ANILAM's precision glass scale encoders are by far the most accepted transducers in the market, easily out-performing other technologies due to their accuracy and repeatability. The finer the measuring grid, the more precise the measurement!

Productivity

With no guesswork involved in the positioning process and with the position clearly available in the display, the work can be done much faster. The Wizard consoles are full of features that will save even more time resulting in even more productivity gain, as e.g. bolthole circle calculation, taper checking, electronic notepad and much more. And with EverTrackTM, ANILAM's new power protection feature, the system always knows where it is. Increased productivity immediately translates into return on investment. Depending on how advanced a system is chosen, the conversion of non-productive time into productive varies as indicated in this chart: The return on investing in a DRO system begins immediately. The gain in productivity pays for the investments in only a few weeks as exemplified in the chart. This pay-back starts immediately, since ANILAM's Wizard systems are so easy to learn and use. The pay-back time is effectively independent of the level of system because the higher investment is compensated by the higher productivity gain. After those initial couple of weeks pay-back time, all that increased productivity becomes profit in your pocket.

Quality

By using a Wizard readout system, the possibility of mis-positioning is efficiently removed. With easy-to-use routines in the console software, even complicated and time consuming calculations are done for you — quickly and correctly. The result is less errors and less scrap. This means higher quality parts produced faster and with lower costs.

Versatility

A Wizard readout owner will quickly reach the expected gains in productivity and quality. Soon, it becomes clear that the versatility of the machine has increased with the access to a variety of software features assisting the operator. Parts that could only be made with great effort before, can now be readily machined. The available market expands with the increased versatility of the machine tool. More jobs to go for and more choice to select from when picking the most profitable ones.

Special Features

EverTrackTM

Additional precision grating on the RBS and RBM linear encoders ensure permanent position tracking. The position will never be lost due to power interruptions.

Radius/Diameter Mode

The console can display the position either as a radius or diameter, an invaluable feature for lathes.

Machine Error Compensation

Machine mechanics are never exact. A correction factor can be set for each axis independently. Just move the axis a known distance, input what it should have been and the wizard will automatically make the necessary correction. Correction is linear in Wizard 211 and can vary over four segments in other models.

Absolute/Incremental Mode

This feature allows positioning using either an absolute datum or the last position as reference for subsequent moves. Selectable with a single key stroke.

Interactive Message Display

The Wizard will calculate actual feed-rate and display here, or the job clock can be read. Also in this display, the Wizard will prompt for data input, making the most demanding operations easy to set up. With the built in help utility, the Wizard will tell the operator what the proper F-codes are.

Bolthole Patterns

Bolthole patterns are often symmetric. The Wizard 450 will automatically calculate all the positions for circular, linear, array or frame patterns, from a minimum of data entry. Only the centerpoint, diameter and number of holes are required for a full circular hole pattern with up to 360 holes.

Tool Length Offsets

The Wizard 450L will keep track of tool lengths offsets, so there is no need to redatum tools.

Axis Coupling

When there are two slides on the same axis, the Wizard will couple the two positions together. The operator can use the slides independently and the Wizard will automatically calculate the true tool position.

Programmability

The Wizard 900 and Wizard 900E store programs like in an electronic notepad. There's up to 500 locations available. The memory can keep many programs in store, independently labeled.

Skew Compensation

Instead of wasting productive time for setting up jobs, use skew compensation and the Wizard will automatically make the necessary corrections to part misalignment.

Mirroring

Reduce tool changes and key strikes by using the mirror image feature. When a job needs repeating mirrored, the Wizard will automatically generate the mirrored locations for a stored program.

Three Z-Axis Mode

At the position of the first spark, Wizard 900E can be switched from the normal x, y, z display to show the only values of interest during the cycle, i.e. distance to go to target depth, the target depth and the actual position of the tool. This mode can be automatically triggered if a first spark detector is connected.

Spark Out

The Wizard will dwell at the target depth enough to create the quality finish desired. SparkArrest™ Wizard 900E provides a unique safety feature, SparkArrest™. This feature will block sparks if the electrode exceeds a certain distance from the workpiece, eliminating the risk of sparking if the electrode moves out of the electrolyte.

Precision Linear Encoders

Linear Encoders based on glass scale technology are by far the most accepted transducers for machine tool applications. These use a sturdy ruler of glass outfitted with a highly durable chrome grating, placed in a well protected metal encapsulation. A reader-head attached to the moving part monitors position and motion by opto-electronically scanning the pattern on the scale.

Accuracy and Repeatability

Accuracy, repeatability and reliability are the well-proven reasons for ANILAM offering precision glass scale (PGS) technology transducers. With the very high precision grating applied, the transducer actually reads what the operator wants to measure. It effectively counts its position digitally rather than relying on complicated interpolation of analog signals, typical of inductive technologies like sliding coils over magnetic 0.5" diameter balls (i.e. more than 600,000 coarser grating). The precision of the PGS grating and the rigidity of the metal extrusion ensure that the same position can be repeated within 1.5 micron (.00006"), significantly higher accuracy than other technologies. The low expansion coefficient of glass ensures less sensitivity to temperature fluctuations that may occur during machining. The PGS encoders are highly resistant to magnetism and electro-magnetic fields since it uses glass as the grating bearer and opto-electronics for the reading. This has shown to be beneficial in the typical workshop where a lot of magnetic material get all over the linear encoder and where electro-magnetic interference often is generated by high power consumption machinery.

Contaminant Resistance

ANILAM has offered PGS Linear Encoders for more than 25 years and presented the first contaminant protected encoder 20 years ago. Since then, protection has been further improved and extensively proven in field, even in the harshest environments. This is why ANILAM guarantees the resistance to contaminants of our Linear Encoders. Contaminant protection is ensured by the way the encoder is built with the glass well protected by the extrusion and by ANILAM's exclusive lip seal made from Nitrile. Nitrile rubber seal has unique mechanical properties that provide the tight seal. Nitrile effectively resists absorption of shop chemicals making the seal very enduring. Also, since ANILAM uses PGS technology, the encoders are non-magnetic and will not attract any swarf.

Roller-Bearing Technology

As a unique design feature for retrofit applications, ANILAM utilizes roller bearing guided reader-heads in the RBS- and RBM-type linear encoders. The advantages of this technique are manyfold. First, it ensures a stable position of the reader-head while scanning the scale grating, ensuring signal consistency and accuracy. It dramatically minimizes hysteresis effects when motion is reversed to the opposite direction, bringing the reversal error to a minimum. Also, the alignment requirement between extrusion and reader-head becomes less critical, making installation easier. All ANILAM readerheads have integrated signal processing electronics, minimizing signal degradation and resulting in excellent noise resistance.