ITRI's MSL Debuts World's First WEDM

Taipei, July 23, 2008 (CENS)--The Mechanical and Systems Research Laboratories (MSL) under the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) takes another step towards developing next-generation machine tools with its introduction of the wire electrical discharge machine (WEDM), the world's first WEDM-based poly-silicone pole cutting equipment.

The newly developed WEDM features high-efficiency and cost-advantages; while the MSL is seeking to cooperate with Sino-American Silicon Products Inc. to commercialize such equipment, as well as further develop chip-cutting equipment in the near future.

The Taiwan-developed poly-silicone cutting equipment coupled with the chip-cutting equipment is estimated to help domestic energy industry generate an extra NT$6.8 billion (US$224.42 million at US$1:NT$30.3) in annual production value.

Su Hsing-chuan, director of the MSL's intelligent machinery section, noted the development of the poly-silicone cutting equipment is derived from the "A+" WEDM machine-tool development program driven by leading EDM manufacturers as Ching Hung Machinery and Electric Industry Co., Accutex Technologies Co. and Joemars Machinery and Electric Industry Co.

Su said the WEDM is an advanced machine tool that is applicable to a wide range of materials, with the MSL applying for patents in many nations to protect its new tool.

The MSL-developed WEDM can cut poly-silicone pole as thin as 150 microns, compared to 200 microns by wire saw. Accordingly the WEDM can significantly reduce material loss while offering high-efficiency production. In addition, the WEDM has expanded processing scope to cover such non-conductive materials as diamond tools and biomedical molds.

To further develop poly-silicone cutting technologies and enhance the international competitiveness of domestic energy industry, MSL is preparing to develop an advanced WEDM which can cut 900 pieces of silicone chips at once, an increase of 225 pieces from the wire saw that is commonly used by the energy industry worldwide. The new WEDM would help domestic energy industry to boost production capacity by 33.3%.