Sodick AQ55L

$190,000 - $260,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

X Travel

550 mm (21.7 in)

Y Travel

370 mm (14.6 in)

Z Travel

250 mm (9.84 in)

Accuracy

±0.001 mm

uv taper range

±15° / 100 mm height

work table size

780 x 570 mm (30.7 x 22.4 in)

Overview

The Sodick AQ55L is a mid-size precision wire EDM with 550 x 370 mm (21.7 x 14.6 in) X/Y travel, positioned between Sodick's compact ALC series and its large-format AG machines. Designed for shops that have outgrown 400 x 300 mm travel but do not need the floor space or budget of a full large-format machine, the AQ55L covers a practical range of mold inserts, progressive die sections, aerospace brackets, and medical implant components that cluster in the 400-500 mm range.

Sodick built the AQ series around the same core linear motor technology that defines every machine in their lineup. The X, Y, U, and V axes are all direct-drive linear motors with zero backlash and no ball screws. The resulting frictionless motion gives the AQ55L the ability to maintain positioning accuracy over long production runs without the gradual accuracy degradation that ball-screw thermal expansion and mechanical wear introduce in conventional machines. Sodick backs this with their standard 10-year positioning accuracy guarantee.

The SP43A power supply with e-pak discharge technology controls spark energy delivery on a per-discharge basis, adapting to changing flushing conditions across the workpiece height. This is especially relevant on the AQ55L's 250 mm maximum workpiece height, where flushing pressure gradients between the top and bottom of the cut create conditions that less sophisticated generators handle poorly. The e-pak circuit's real-time adaptation reduces wire break frequency and maintains surface finish consistency from entry to exit.

The AQ55L features full submersion cutting as standard for thermal stability on fine-finish work, automatic wire threading with in-cut re-threading, and the Sodick LQ controller with pre-loaded technology tables for rapid setup across common toolmaking materials. The machine's compact footprint — smaller than the AG series — makes it accessible in shops where floor space is constrained.

Pricing for a new Sodick AQ55L typically falls in the $190,000-$260,000 range. The AQ55L competes with the Mitsubishi MV1200S, GF AgieCharmilles Cut 400 Sp, and Fanuc ROBOCUT α-C600iB in the mid-size precision wire EDM segment.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
X-Axis Travel	550 mm (21.7 in)
Y-Axis Travel	370 mm (14.6 in)
Z-Axis Travel	250 mm (9.84 in)
Uv Taper Range	±15° / 100 mm height
Work Table Size	780 x 570 mm (30.7 x 22.4 in)
Max Workpiece Weight	800 kg (1,764 lb)
Max Workpiece Height	250 mm (9.84 in)
Wire Diameter Range	0.10 - 0.30 mm
Drive System	Linear motors (X, Y, U, V axes)
Generator	SP43A with e-pak discharge circuit
Surface Finish	Ra 0.18 um achievable
Positioning Accuracy	±0.001 mm
CNC Control	Sodick LQ controller
Awt	Automatic wire threading with in-cut re-threading
Machine Dimensions	2,100 x 2,400 x 2,050 mm (82.7 x 94.5 x 80.7 in)
Machine Weight	4,800 kg (10,582 lb)
Accuracy Guarantee	10-year positioning accuracy guarantee
Power Supply	SP43A

Specifications sourced from sodick.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

550 x 370 mm travel fills the gap between compact 400 x 300 mm machines and large-format 800 x 600 mm platforms — covers the 400-500 mm part range without oversizing
Linear motor drives on all four axes provide zero-backlash positioning with Sodick's 10-year accuracy guarantee — no ball-screw maintenance or accuracy degradation over time
SP43A e-pak generator adapts discharge energy in real time to maintain cut quality through 250 mm workpiece heights where flushing gradients are most challenging
Full submerged cutting standard for thermal stability on long, fine-finish runs in high-tolerance toolmaking applications
800 kg workpiece capacity handles large progressive die sections and thick aerospace blanks that exceed the capacity of smaller machines
Automatic wire threading with in-cut re-threading supports lights-out production on overnight runs

Limitations

Z-axis height of 250 mm is not sufficient for tall-workpiece specialist applications — shops needing 300+ mm height should consider the AG750L
The mid-size footprint of 2,100 x 2,400 mm is smaller than large-format machines but still requires dedicated floor space and proper electrical/chiller infrastructure
Price range of $190,000-$260,000 positions the AQ55L above compact mid-size EDMs — ROI justification requires regular use of the additional X travel beyond 400 mm
LQ controller technology tables require periodic updates from Sodick for new materials and wire types — a minor but real dependency on the OEM

Best For

Progressive die shops where blanked workpieces regularly span 450-550 mm in one direction, exceeding compact machine travel without justifying a full large-format investment Aerospace suppliers cutting mid-size brackets, structural components, and titanium/Inconel blanks in the 400-550 mm range Mold shops building large injection mold cores and cavities where insert sizes have pushed past 400 mm in X Job shops consolidating two smaller machines into one mid-size platform to handle the full range of customer part sizes under a single roof Medical and precision instrument manufacturers working with larger implant fixtures and tooling plates in stainless and titanium

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How does the AQ55L fit between the ALC600G and AG750L in Sodick's lineup?

The AQ55L sits in an intermediate travel tier. The ALC600G offers 600 x 400 mm travel with a precision-optimized platform focused on fine-finish toolmaking. The AG750L targets large-format work with 750 x 500 mm travel and heavier workpiece capacity. The AQ55L at 550 x 370 mm is well-positioned for shops whose work regularly falls in the 450-550 mm range — large enough to need more than the ALC400G but not consistently requiring the AG750L's larger envelope.

02 Can the AQ55L cut titanium and Inconel?

Yes. The SP43A e-pak generator includes pre-loaded technology tables for titanium, Inconel, and other difficult aerospace alloys. These materials require lower discharge energy and careful wire tension management to avoid breakage. The AQ55L's linear motor drives maintain precise servo response at the reduced feed rates used for these materials. Surface finishes on titanium are typically Ra 0.30-0.50 um on standard passes with extended skim cuts improving to Ra 0.20 um range.

03 What is the wire consumption rate on the AQ55L?

Wire consumption depends on the cutting speed and wire diameter in use. At typical production cutting speeds with 0.25 mm brass wire, consumption runs roughly 8-12 meters per hour. The AQ55L supports wire spools of standard industry sizes; most shops run 8-12 kg spools for overnight production. The e-pak generator's wire-break prevention reduces waste from break recovery, which is a meaningful consumable cost factor on long overnight runs.

04 Does the AQ55L support automation with a pallet system?

The AQ55L can be integrated with pallet-based automation through third-party automation providers and Sodick's automation partners. The LQ controller supports external interface signals for cell integration. Discuss automation requirements with Sodick or your regional distributor at the time of machine specification, as some mechanical and electrical preparation for automation is easier to include at the factory than to retrofit.

05 How does the AQ55L's e-pak discharge circuit reduce wire breaks?

Conventional generators deliver fixed discharge energy regardless of real-time cutting conditions. The e-pak circuit monitors each individual spark and modulates energy delivery based on the detected gap state. When flushing conditions deteriorate — typically in the middle of tall workpieces where the dielectric cannot circulate as freely — the e-pak circuit reduces discharge energy to match what the flushing can clear, preventing the wire overload that causes breaks. This adaptive approach is especially effective on the AQ55L's 250 mm maximum height capacity.