Dartford-based toolmaking specialist Synergy (Kent) Ltd has invested in the latest Sodick AD35L from Sodi-Tech EDM, a move that has seen both precision and ease-of-control improve in comparison with the company’s existing die-sink machine. The new AD35L has been set to work producing punches with intricate and precise forms for the compaction industry.

“Such has been our growing order book that it was clear we needed to increase our EDM capacity,” explains one of the company’s owners Ian Chambers. “For this reason, we decided to assess the market for an additional die-sink EDM.”

Despite having never used a Sodick machine before, the company’s research identified the AD35L as the solution. Following a full demonstration by Sodi-Tech EDM and the manufacture of sample parts, Synergy placed the order. Since installation, the machine has been dedicated to a single repetitive job; special compaction punches made from Vanadis 30 tool steel and carbide with the requirement for a tight form sparked in the top face. The AD35L completes three punches every day.

“The tight form includes a maximum corner radius of 0.1 mm,” explains Chambers. “We have to hold a tolerance on concentricity of 5 µm, and 10 µm on size, depth and profile shape, as well as a high level of surface finish. However, our new AD35L meets the specification day-in, day-out.”

Ease-of-use and high levels of control are additional features of the AD35L to have impressed Chambers: “Considering I have been a user of another EDM brand for the past 30 years, the learning curve on the Sodick machine was really short,” he says. “In fact, we were running-capable in just 2-3 days.”
For further information www.sodi-techedm.co.uk