The U3i Wire Electrical Discharge (Wire EDM) machine is a high-accuracy variant of Makino’s versatile U-Series precision Wire EDM product line.  The U3i machine combines all the productive features found in the U3 and U3 H.E.A.T. models and adds some new design elements that further enhance machine accuracy and capability.  The U3i is ideal for high precision applications, as the machine is designed and constructed to stricter tolerances. Machine construction enhancements are decisively engineered to deliver a higher level of thermal stability, which directly translates to greater precision and repeatability over long periods of operation.
 
Like other Makino Wire EDM’s, the U3i design integrates the di-electric reservoir into the base casting of the machine, and this benefits in a smaller machine footprint with greater temperature stability of the entire machine structure. To attain heightened precision, the U3i comes equipped with a high accuracy water chilling unit that maintains the water temperature to an ultra-precise +/-0.1°C (+/-0.2°F). Chilled di-electric fluid is circulated through internal radiators that create a stable and consistent air temperature inside the machine’s sheet metal covers and also on the work tank seal plate to complete the high accuracy active thermal stabilization system.
      
The U3i builds on the machining performance of Makino’s U-Series platform and combines the best of high speed, high precision, and fine surface finish machining capabilities down to 0.070.1µm (34µinRa).  The machine is equipped with an expanded capacity 4-Filter Filtration System that extends the life of the filters while helping to reduce operating costs, and this system also includes a built-in filter air purge function for quick and safe filter replacement.  The machine also features Makino’s dual digitally controlled high pressure flush pumps that provide independent dedicated flushing to the Upper and Lower machine heads.  This advanced high-pressure flushing configuration is integrated into the adaptive control technologies, providing the machine with more intelligence to dynamically adapt to changes in flushing during machining to achieve the fastest and most productive speeds. The U3i also contains Makino’s H.E.A.T. (High Energy Applied Technology) technology, which enables high speed machining capabilities of poor and difficult flushing applications, and helps to reduce rough cut cycle time by up to 50% over traditional single pump flushing systems.   
 
The U3i machine includes Makino’s latest developments and comes standard with the HyperDrive Extreme wire path system.  This new Extreme Wire EDM system provides increased precision over wire tension, which helps improve part straightness and accuracy of small geometric details.  The HyperDrive Extreme features Makino’s unique Tool-less Energizer Indexing system that greatly simplifies machine maintenance, and the wire guides can be exchanged without the need for time consuming wire alignment calibration procedures.  The HyperDrive Extreme system further enhances wire threading capabilities by offering programmable control of both traditional water column jet threading and jet-less threading, which allows the machine to reliably auto-thread very small start holes and even rethread the wire at the break point during unattended operation.      
 
The U3i machine comes generously equipped and ready to run, and this includes many items that most competitors charge as an Option or don’t offer at all.  The machine is standard with a Chiller Unit, an LED Work Light, and Makino’s unique active Pro-Tech Circuit that “protects the work piece” by preventing and minimizing oxidation (rust) from occurring on the work piece while submerged in water for long periods of time.  The results of the Pro-Tech Circuit greatly reduce or eliminate the need for chemical or mechanical cleaning of the finished work piece, and this part quality and time-savings benefit is accomplished without the need for harmful and expensive chemicals.  The machine comes equipped with its own transformer and power line filter that provide stable and consistent power for reliable operation, and also contains consumable items such as (x2) spools of wire and (x2) quick-change de-ionization resin bottles.  Installation is included with each machine, and this includes as access to Makino’s 24/7 Technical Support and Customer Portal (www.mymakino.com).
    
The U3i is standard with 0.250mm (0.010”) wire guides but can operate with optional wire sizes up to 0.300mm (0.012”) or down to 0.050mm (0.002”) in diameter.  The machine includes a full machining condition database library of all wire diameter sizes and multiple material types (Steel, Tungsten Carbide, Aluminum, Copper, Graphite, PCD, Titanium), and every condition has been developed to provide an optimum mix of speed, precision, and low wire consumption.  The U3i utilizes Makino’s exclusive Hyper-i control for EDM, which establishes a universal and streamlined intuitive smart-devise interface for all Makino EDM machines (Wire EDM, Sinker EDM, and EDM Drilling machines all use the same control).  The Hyper-i control features dual 24” wide HD touch screens that provide the operator with an expansive and customizable view over machine operation. The Hyper-i system is designed to support the needs of both novice and expert operators, and includes features like the advanced E-Tech Doctor help function, integrated machine manuals and videos, and an on-board training tutorial system that an operator can access at any time.  The U3i is also standard with the Athena voice control system that allows direct voice command and interaction with the machine, bringing new advanced futuristic levels of machine accuracy and efficiency to machine operation.