Vertical EDM Machine purchase advice

[kspiegel]

We are going to purchase a new Vertical (RAM, Sinker) EDM Machine. We are considering Agie, Makino, and Sodick brand machines. Does anyone have any advice or experience with recent models. We will be using the machine to burn carbide.

Thank you

[roysol]

be aware that special circuitry for burning carbide is an option on some of them.

We don't burn any carbide, but we bought an Agie Hyperspark last year and have been very happy with it.

If you have a more or less "typical" part, have them all do test burns to show you times, finish, and accuarcy.

Cheers!

Roy Solomon

[John@CRDM]

Are Charmilles EDM machines not very popular in the states? I'd go Charmilles for any EDM machine

[roysol]

Charmilles has sold a lot of machines here over the years. They are now part of the George Fischer group. Many of their prior models have been retained, but technically machines from them or the prior Agie line are now all known as AgieCharmilles.

Roy Solomon

Cheers!

[John@CRDM]

We only use Mikron and Charmilles here so im pretty up to date on the GF partnership.

[mdynac]

call edm network

talk to kirk about a chmer edm and it's carbide cutting capability

he will happily demo it for you.

as i see you already are interested in several brands of edm, the chmer
was not on your list, i would not count it out.

just my 2 cents.....

and gee it won't cost you a dime and could save you tens of thousands.....

[NIL8r]

Also check into the Fanuc Oi series.

I had been running Agies for 10+ years before running the Fanuc. The Fanuc is really nice for the money. Plus, if you like to write/change code at the machine, you can't get any easier. It also handles variables!
The one advantage that I liked about the Agie was that the flushing on heavy taper cuts seemed to be better as well as switching wire size. The Fanuc doesn't tip the flushing toward the cut as an Agie does. The Fanuc also uses guides specific to the size of wire you're running. So, if you plan to vary wire or cut larger taper often, I would look at Agie. Otherwise, the Fanuc is a nice machine.

IMO, I would stay away fom Mitsubishi. Poor service and $$$ parts.

Hope this helps.

[jetski]

Got a 19 year old charmille we just bought. Roboform 400 4th axis, 128 burn amps, chiller. I wish it still had the tool changer. It is doing a bang up job for us. We had a Elox T-50 before. Apples to oranges. By the way the Apples are up for sale since we bought the orange if anybody is interested in an older Apple (Elox). Check a web site out of TNT EDM in Detroit MI. Cleanest Highest tech shop you will every walk into. Only Charmille EDMs Wire and sinker. One guy runs about 10 machines. Look at the photos on their web site. When you die and go to mold maker heaven it will be not as nice as this shop.

[gabedrummin]

Stay away from Sodick pure junk.....we have three at work hate them like fanuc machines....