In engineering the AgieCharmilles FORM X 400 and AgieCharmilles FORM X 600 machines, GF Machining Solutions Research and Development took into account the effects of temperature fluctuation on precision and mastered those variations, which can be related to the machining environment or the machine itself. The new machines’ thermo control system guarantees unmatched precision under even less-than-ideal workshop conditions.
The sophisticated and unique thermo control system compensates for temperature variations by using temperature-stable dielectric to cool the X, Y and Z glass scales, as well as the Z axis ball screw. In assembly, the machine body is thermally isolated from the high-speed Z axis, which is cooled with dielectric fluid. Their moving part are fully dissociated from the loading and machining area to ensure that they are not affected by variations in temperature in the erosion area, nor by the extreme range in weights of the workpieces that can be accommodated by the AgieCharmilles FORM X series.
Moreover, the AgieCharmilles FORM X series' structure has been specially designed with a frame of polymeric material that ensures constant positioning accuracy: The machine’s extreme robustness means that all the mechanical forces are absorbed so that an accurate gap between the part and the electrode is maintained. The spheroidal cast iron X, Y, and Z axes, located in the upper part of the machine, are based on highly accurate calculations in order to reduce their mass and at the same time meet requirements in terms of rigidity, precision and dynamic conditions.
Whether the user is machining a single cavity, a multi-cavity or micro cavity mold for serial production of small parts, like lens holding pieces for electronic components, the AgieCharmilles FORM X 400 and AgieCharmilles FORM X 600 represent maximum positioning accuracy. In addition to offering optimal global thermostabilization, the machines themselves are assembled with highest accuracy and under strict manufacturing conditions and aligned with a laser interferometer during the final steps of production to ensure perfect 3D positioning.