Dear List,
For those that are interested in EDM and also academics that don't
really have a lot of spare cash to spend, the following might be useful
(Its not a sales pitch - honest - I'm just informing of availability).
I went to see a small company yesterday who are developing low cost,
small EDM machines and micro machining centres (which are predominantly
intended for electrode manufacture). There are only 3 or 4 employees in
the company.
Their first small EDM machine sold for around £7,500 and they sold quite
a few of these around the world. It was after someone asked if they had
anything cheaper that they decided to try and reduce the cost of their
equipment, which they were successful in doing.
At the present time, they are trying to market their new, cheaper
equipment, and see academic institutions and secondary/high schools as
their main potential buyers, followed by jewellery and model makers.
Heres the spec on the equipment:-
CAT3D-M6 Micro Machining Centre:
Basic Equipment - 3-axis coordinate table, digital servo drive, 290W HF
spindle, CNC milling, drilling and engraving software.
Machining Area - 140x190x140mm (5.5"x7.5"x5.5"); (x,y,z).
Clamping Area - 160x385mm (6"x15").
Resolution - 0.0003mm.
Positioning Accuracy - ±0.003mm.
Feed - up to 2m/min.
High Frequency Spindle - 7,000-60,000rpm, pneumatic tool changer.
Cost for this is £30,000.
Modular Spark Erosion System:
Work Tank - total tank dimension of 270x200mm; work table dimension
240x170mm; maximum dielectric height 70mm.
Dielectric Pump/Filter - 10litres capacity; 230V single phase.
Workhead (Quill) - can be setup if rquired in any CNC machine, pillar
drill etc... or they will provide a machine stand for free if you
purchase the whole EDM machine setup.
Pulse Generator - dimension 230x230x400mm; forced-air cooled
transistorised pulse generator; 12 preset Pulse ON times and variable
Pulse OFF times; periodic retract; adjustable retraction times; 230V
single phase.
Machine Stand - free if you buy all the above modules.
Cost for all these modules together is £3,180.
They can be contacted at:-
Concept EDM Ltd
Brick Kiln Industrial Estate
Malders Lane
Pinkneys Green
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 6NQ
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1628 639854
Not quite the $200 machine that was spoken about a few weeks ago, but I
hope this is of help to someone on the list.
Allan.
-- Allan E W Rennie Research Engineer Centre for Rapid Design and Manufacture Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College Queen Alexandra Road High Wycombe Bucks HP11 2JZTel: +44 (0)1494 605085 Fax: +44 (0)1494 538593 Email: allan.rennie@bcuc.ac.uk
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