WCA November 2014

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Wire & Cable ASIA – November/December 2014
Technologynews
Ajex & Turner is using vitrified
nanocrystalline technology that has
changed the traditional way of wire
drawing. The prospects of this
technology will, the company believes,
have a huge impact in the future and
will save material and manufacturing
costs for cable companies.
Its research and development team
has developed diamond coated dies
and extrusion tooling for bunching and
compacting copper and aluminium
multi-wire strands for electric cables.
These dies are made with multi-layer
coatings of nanocrystalline diamond
composites on tungsten carbide nibs,
which provide a smooth surface with
low friction.
This technology provides a much
harder and compact surface in
comparison to PCD, and the company
is developing a process to re-size and
re-polishing from 29mm to 42mm.
There are numerous advantages over
PCD. The layer of diamond is 100 per
cent diamond and resistant to wear,
unlike PCD which is a mixture of cobalt
and other hard materials.
This gives a cost-saving on
repolishing, with tolerance remaining
the same. The cost of the new dies is
also four to five times less than PCD,
and can be recut in microns.
Ajex and Turner’s R and D is working
to increase the layers of coatings,
which may also help coating profile
dies and increase the working life of
the die by a further 30 to 50 per cent.
The size range is 2.5mm to 42mm,
while the reduction angle is generally
18 to 24 degrees with 20 to 30 per
cent bearing length.
The model TCD-10 will help die
polishing and grinding as it does both
of these in one operation, saving time
and energy, and increasing cost
effectiveness. The machine operates at
high speed and can recondition dies in
a short period of time. It is also possible
to achieve a mirror polish using
diamond suspension and steel pins.
The company has also started
manufacturing wire drawing lubricants
for copper and aluminium for fine wire
and RBD, in association with a
UK-based company.
Ajex and Turner – India
Website:
Changing the way of wire drawing
❍ A range of dies from Ajex and Turner
GEO-Reinigungstechnik specialises in the production of
wet chemical cleaning systems for wire, strip, tube, cable,
rod and similar longitudinal configurations.
Almost all of the demands on the cleaning processes can
be realised with proven GEO components, such as high
performance ultrasonic tube reactors and high pressure
or steam jets.
GEO in-line cleaning systems can be complemented by
state-of-the-art systems for continuous bath monitoring
and much more, according to individual requirements.
For less demanding cleaning tasks, mechanical methods
are suitable. The ‘Primary Wire Wipe’ system (PWW)
enjoys popularity in this field.
The wire to be cleaned passes between two strips of
absorbing tape material that move in opposite directions.
In this way a clean tape surface is continuously presented
to the wire or strip material.
Equipped with one of the most popular and universal
tools for surface treatment of wires, cables and rods the
DRB brush cleaning system for wires, cables, rod and
small pipes is a compact, eco-friendly and cost-effective
system for the removal of residual scales, swarf and dust,
to reduce excess drawing agent or to extend tool life of
metal forming machines.
To optimise surface condition both pre-process and
post-process the material passes through a rotating spiral
brush.
Depending on the application and material the brushes
can have nylon, brass or steel filaments. The rotary
movement of the brush supports the wiping effect of this
well-proven tool.
Further contamination removed from the wire does not
clog-up the brush because centrifugal force throws a
major part of the removed contamination into the base of
the unit. Inside a lidded working box two separate
compartments include a rotating unit to fix a cut-to-length
spiral brush and an air wipe.
Removed dirt is caught in the trough and collected in a
removable draw-type container. Following the spiral brush
the air jet nozzle blows off any remaining loose particles.
GEO-Reinigungstechnik GmbH – Germany
Website :
Mechanical cleaning systems