Fanuc ROBOCUT α-C1200iB

Both machines occupy the large-format production wire EDM tier with travel envelopes exceeding 1,000 mm. The Sodick AG100L offers 1,000 x 800 mm travel with linear motor drives achieving ±0.001 mm accuracy. The Fanuc α-C1200iB provides a larger 1,200 x 800 mm envelope at ±0.002 mm accuracy. The Sodick's linear motor architecture provides a modest accuracy advantage; the Fanuc's larger X-travel accommodates parts in the 1,000–1,200 mm range that the AG100L cannot. Shops choosing between them should base the decision on whether work regularly exceeds 1,000 mm in X (in which case the α-C1200iB is required) and on preferred service ecosystem preferences between Sodick and Fanuc.

The α-C1200iB requires reinforced concrete flooring rated for the machine's 12,000 kg weight plus workpiece load (up to 4,000 kg), typically requiring a dedicated machine pad with increased slab thickness and rebar density engineered by a structural consultant. Overhead rigging with a minimum 15-ton capacity is required for delivery and installation. Floor space should allow at least 1.5 meters clearance on all sides for machine access and dielectric unit placement. Adequate electrical supply (typically 3-phase 200–230V, 40–60A) and deionized water loop installation are required. Facility planning should involve Fanuc's installation engineers before the machine is ordered.

On large workpieces, cutting conditions vary significantly across a 1,200 mm travel span. Material microstructure variation, dielectric flushing changes along extended cut paths, and thermal gradients across large workpieces all create gap condition instability that a fixed-parameter generator cannot adapt to. AI Pulse Control II's real-time learning of cut-specific conditions allows it to adapt discharge parameters to these variations, maintaining consistent material removal rate and surface finish quality across the full part area. Without adaptive control, large-part cutting programs often show surface finish variation or require conservative parameters that sacrifice cutting speed to maintain stability.

For rough cutting large die sections in hardened D2 and H13 tool steel (the most common materials in large progressive dies), 0.25–0.30 mm coated wire (zinc-stratified or gamma wire) provides maximum cutting speed with good break resistance. Coated wire's flushing efficiency advantage is particularly valuable on large workpieces where maintaining consistent flushing across a 1,000+ mm cut path is challenging. For skim passes on precision die features within the large part, 0.20 mm plain brass wire provides better surface finish. The α-C1200iB's technology tables include parameters for both wire types optimized for large-format cutting.

Yes. The α-C1200iB supports submerged cutting, where the workpiece and active cutting zone are fully immersed in the deionized water dielectric. Submerged cutting provides more consistent flushing than jet flushing alone, reduces thermal gradient effects on tall workpieces, and improves surface finish consistency on cuts with varying flushing accessibility. The AWF3 wire threading system is capable of threading in submerged mode, allowing programs to start and restart in the submerged state without requiring the tank to be drained. For tall workpieces at or near the 400 mm maximum height, submerged cutting is strongly recommended.