A new Sodick ALC400G CNC wire eroder from Sodi-Tech EDM is performing the work of two previous machines at Cranden Diamond Products, a manufacturer of precision diamond and CBN grinding wheels. Cranden Diamond is also enjoying a significant boost in precision with its new Sodick machine, helping this dynamic international business to meet the growing demands of its customers.

Since the pandemic, increasing tensions in various global locations have led to an increase in defence industry work, for both aerospace and marine applications. Some of this work involves challenging composite materials.

“We’re seeing a growing number of military vehicle components made from Kevlar, for example.” reports Stuart Cleary, operations director at Cranden Diamond. “Kevlar is extremely difficult to process after moulding, so it requires grinding to final shape using either diamond or CBN wheels. To manufacture these tools, we electroplate crystal particles to very precise engineering profiles that we generate in the grinding wheel.”

Part of the manufacturing process requires the application of wire EDM. Seeking an increase in precision for this critical process, Cleary researched the market for a new machine to replace one of the company’s two ageing models.

“I shortlisted two potential machines, one of which was the Sodick ALC400G,” he says. “We ultimately opted for the Sodick because Sodi-Tech EDM has an in-house team of service engineers who know the machines back-to-front.”

Installed in July 2023, the original intention was to replace one existing EDM with the new Sodick ALC400G.

“Although we bought the machine to enhance precision, its productivity performance surprised us,” explains Cleary. “We soon found it doing the work of both our previous machines. We’re so impressed that we’re already in discussions about buying another wire EDM and we wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else than Sodi-Tech.”

For further information www.sodi-tech.co.uk