Tools: CNC Wire Bending

Does anyone have any experience with CNC Wire Bending?
I've often wondered how some of these homebrew guys are coming up with the know how to create new / unique Wireforms.

I've considered buying a DiWire but the price and general FUD is keeping me away. $3200 is quite a bit of money to spend on a tool you haven't seen.

Is everyone doing these Wireforms by hand?

#12 8 years ago

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Quoted from Law:
When I was there a week or two ago one of the staff mentioned that they might be getting a wire bender for the jewlery/metalcasting area

OHHH? Really?
Doubt isn't CNC tho. I'll have to ask them next time I'm in there.

Quoted from deadzebra:
It does not do wide sweeping curves well (see chin, head here.. http://goo.gl/Xv34ZW it's bends, not curves ) and most importantly it only operates on one plane so you're severely limited by what you can get out of it.

Oh? good data. This was the kind of input I was looking for.

#20 8 years ago

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I think the limitation of the DiWire is the solenoid bender at the end. To do a smooth curve; you'd need a stepper to bend the wire while it's feeding it. Another stepper in the Z direction would also help. The DiWire looks like a neat piece of kit; I'm just disappointed it doesn't do more at that price level.

I'm guessing the limitation is the software driving the product.

#23 8 years ago

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Quoted from JoelOmatik:
It's low-tech, but looks great nonetheless.
http://pinballmakers.com/wiki/index.php/Construction#Wiring

Great Link!

2 years later

#25 6 years ago

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