I’ve run older Charmilles machines for years; a 1998 400, 1997 310, both retired, now a 1999 Charmilles 290, and a 2012 AMS AW5SL (Chmer upscale division)
What brand(s) do you run these days and what do you like/love/hate?
I love the Charmilles because they design their generators to work hard to not break the wire.
I like the AMS because while it breaks wire more often, it rethreads fast and is deadly accurate.
I run two Sodick wires. One is a AQ537L from 08 and a new ALN600G. Only machines I have ever ran so I am a little bias. I love these machines though, easy maintenance, very reliable and accurate and the newer AWT on the ALN is awesome.
We run a variety of machines. Sodick sinkers AQ35L, AG 40L. Makino sinkers EDAF2, Sodick wires AQ300L, AQ325L,AG400L. Mits wire 2400R, FA 20s. Makino wire U3, U3i, SP43, U6, and just recently received a UP6 Heat. As you can see, we run a little of everything.
I currently run a Makino U3. Had 1 week of training to learn the EDM, Autodesk Inventor, and WIZ. Now using Opticam instead of WIZ. Its been a fun adventure but loving every minute of it. Just learning to fine tune burns, hoping to gain more knowledge here!
The MV machine has a great auto threader. WE have the MV 2400 and 1200 R and S machines.
The R machine has the fine finish that we use for a few customers who are punching stainless and require a very smooth finish. The S (standard) will produce a good enough finish for 95% of what our customers require.
Our MV-2400 is the ST and has the capacity of 16.5" on Z.
Depending on your needs whether to go with the 2400 or 1200 R or S machine.
However I love the auto threaders and they are quite reliable. Mits service is great as well.
I removed a machine last year that was a 1985 that we used for rough EDM cuts. They had service and support for the machine up to the day we pulled it from service.