The latest AgieCharmilles Cut P series of wire EDM machines from Coventry-based GF Machining Solutions Ltd (www.gfms.com/uk) has been designed to give users positioning and contouring capabilities that ensure high levels of quality and productivity.

The Cut P series of 350/550/800/1250 machines also feature efficient power generators and intuitive human-machine-interfaces, as well as several automation options for ‘lights out’/unattended operating.

The company says its Intelligent Power Gener-ator (IPG) digital technology delivers surface finishes down to Ra0.10µm, while improving cutting speeds by up to 20%.

Several ‘Expert’ systems further optimise the IPG’s cutting performance.

For example, Power-Expert monitors and changes the power levels required to machine parts with variable heights; it also controls the spark parameters during finishing operations to optimise surface quality.

Wire-Expert dynamically controls wire wear to achieve continuous geometrical accuracy from all directions, regardless of workpiece height, while Profil-Expert automatically adapts the machining parameters and the cutting path for rough and skim passes to provide excellent control of fine details and to ensure positioning and contour accuracies of ±2µm.

Taper-Expert technology cuts angles from 0 to 30deg (45deg as an option) to maximum Z heights, while holding the taper angle to within 10sec (on average).

Meanwhile, integrated temperature-regulating systems maintain the machine body temperature within ±0.2°C for guaranteed repeatability over long periods of time; in machine shops where the ambient temperature may vary throughout the day, a thermo-stability option gives the machine axes an extra layer of temperature control protection.

CUT P machines also feature GF Machining Solutions’ collision protection technology on the X, Y, U, V and Z axes; this prevents potential machine damage and eliminates costly down-time and maintenance, even at maximum axis travel speeds of 3m/min.

Automation solutions include automatic slug management, automatic slug welding and Renishaw probing systems.

Additionally, the Cut P Series 350 and 550 can integrate with robots such as the System 3R WorkPartner 1+, which automatically loads and unloads parts for a single machine or a two-machine automation cell.

The machines can handle parts ranging from less than 1mm up to 800mm in height and weighing up to 6,000kg.