The new, affordable AccuteX "Great Economy" (GE) Wire EDMs from Absolute Machine Tools, advertised at $89,000, reportedly combine high cutting speed and accuracy. The line also features automatic wire threading (AWT) that provides fast submerged rethreading at the break point. When wire breakage occurs, rethreading takes place without dielectric drainage/refilling, resulting in spark-to-spark times as low as 15 seconds. In addition, an exclusive air-driven wire removal system quickly disposes of waste wire of any length.

The GE machines are capable of 33.5"²/hr. cutting speeds using 0.012" high speed wire, and the AccuteX SD (Stable Discharge) Master-powered servo control system enhances accuracy, repeatability and surface finish while minimizing the possibility of wire breakage. The AccuteX Intelligent Discharge Unit is engineered to maximize performance in changing workpiece thicknesses and water flushing conditions. A digital AC power supply facilitates high speed, electrolysis free machining.

The in-house-developed AccuteX controller features Automatic Corner Control that analyzes cutting data, wire diameter, cutting angle and workpiece thickness to automatically determine parameters that will maintain the best corner cutting performance from roughing to finishing operations.

The GE machines' 6-axis controller includes Z-axis positioning and 5-axis simultaneous interpolation to enable processing of any "turn and burn" application. An in-house-designed rotary table and controller can be applied to both vertical and horizontal applications.

Steve Ortner, president and owner of Absolute Machine Tools, said, "The AccuteX GE series EDM machines provide EDM productivity, accuracy and reliability at a price point that makes them very affordable for many shops that didn't previously believe they could take advantage of the wide and unique capabilities of EDM."