Warwickshire-based
Sodick Europe Ltd, along with sole UK distributor
Sodi-Tech EDM Ltd have taken their largest stand ever at
MACH 2022. The show will be taking place from 4 to 8 April at the NEC, Birmingham.
Machines on display will include: the latest wire EDM machines, the ALC400P and ALC600G both with iGroove technology; the VL400Q precision wire machine; an AL60G die sinker configured with an Erowa Robot; a Zeiss measurement machine; an AD35L die sinker; a UH650L high-speed milling machine; the new K4HL aerospace- and energy-focused small-hole drilling machine; and the GL30A injection moulding machine.
Seen for the first time in Europe, the new K4HL five-axis EDM small-hole drilling machine has been developed specifically to meet the needs of the aerospace and energy industries for the high-speed drilling of the thousands of small, high-precision holes in exotic materials for jet engine turbines and other turbines.
Features include: a full three-axis contouring or orbiting capability for the machining of small, high-precision diffuser holes in jet engine blades and vanes; a breakthrough detection function that eliminates back-striking in small chambers and minimises the potential for scrap parts when drilling unattended; and the SPK power supply, which has been developed specifically for high quality small-hole drilling in ‘difficult to burn’ materials such as titanium alloys, nickel alloys, iron, cemented carbide, copper, aluminium and brass.
Also making their first appearance at a European exhibition are two new Sodick wire EDM machines, the ALC400P and ALC600G; these are equipped with the company’s patented iGroove technology, which rotates the wire during the skim cut operation so that workpieces are machined from top to bottom with the ‘unconsumed’ surface of the wire — resulting in increased surface quality and improved geometric accuracy, while at the same time minimising wire consumption.
Sodick will also be showing the VL400Q, a small-footprint high-precision wire machine for the manufacture of high-precision parts typically required by the automotive, aerospace and medical sectors.
This machine comes as standard with linear motors and absolute linear scales on the X, Y, U and V axes; options include Taper Flex NEO for cutting steep angles, jumbo wire feeder, wire chopper and a WS4P/5P rotary table.
In addition to linear motors and absolute linear scales on the X, Y and Z axes, Sodick’s new AL60G die sink machine features a linear motor cooling facility, dielectric fluid cooling unit, nano-wear discharge unit, and a number of other productivity-boosting technologies. Options include a C axis, an ATC (6-, 12-, 16- or 32-station), high-precision rotary head, and eight-axis simultaneous control.
At
MACH the AL60G machine will be configured with an Erowa Compact 80, with JMS MoldLine software and a Zeiss DuraMax measuring probe system. Also on show will be an AD35L, a small-footprint die sink machine with linear motors for high-speed and rapid acceleration, as well as high levels of accuracy.
Meanwhile, Sodick’s UH650L machining centre benefits from the company’s linear drive expertise, creating a machine that avoids the need to ‘separately undertake rough and fine milling by making both machining passes in one operating mode’ for enhanced dimensional accuracy, surface finish and tool life — in shorter cycle times. Standard features include a linear motor temperature controller, LN4X controller, spindle temperature controller, tool tip cleaning system, mist coolant, and a 16-station ATC.
Completing the line-up is the GL30A injection moulding machine which comes equipped with Sodick’s V-Line, two-stage plunger injection system, which is designed to provide a consistent plasticising heat profile, constant filling volume, and constant holding pressure.