Fidia, founded in 1974, is an established manufacturer of high speed milling machines and CNC systems. Listed on the Milan stock exchange since 2001, the company is headquartered in Turin and has around 330 employees worldwide. Its entire range, with the exception of the company’s standard three-axis vertical machining centres, will be offered by TDT.
At present, Fidia’s worldwide sales comprise 80% machines and 20% from the supply of CNC systems to other machine tool manufacturers. In the UK there is an installed base of around 70 Fidia-controlled machines, which includes a number of the company’s own models. Existing users in the UK and Ireland can now contact TDT Technology for sales, spares and service.
Machine ranges now available in the UK include the newly-enhanced Fidia D range of five-axis milling machines, the GTF range of 5-axis gantry machines, the Y2G series of double traverse gantry models, the K range of 5-axis high speed milling systems, the Y2K series of double productivity 5-axis milling machines, the KR series of 6-axis high speed mills, G996 high performance 5-axis milling centres, H664 compact 5-axis machining centres, and Fidia’s CNC systems.
The recently-enhanced D range of five-axis milling machines offers both 3+2 and simultaneous 5-axis finishing of surfaces with high speed spindles. With hundreds of installations worldwide, the D218 (2,000 mm X-axis travel), D318 (3,000 mm) and D418 (4,250 mm) are now newly enhanced to ensure rapid return on investment. Today, the D family of machines offers cutting speeds up to 22 m/min, a new Z-axis counter-balance system and an active cooling system. Applications include plastic injection moulds, die casting dies, aluminium aerospace parts, graphite electrodes, resin models, tyre moulds and jet engine disk slots, to name a few.
The Fidia GTF gantry line is characterised by its versatility: due to its modular structure, X-, Y- and Z-axis strokes of several metres can be supplied to match customer requirements. Taking advantage of a combination of components selected according to weight, stiffness and cost requirements, GTF machines are ideal for a host of applications in sectors such as automotive, aerospace and general machining.
Fidia’s Y2G series of 5-axis gantry models feature two independent heads either working together on the same workpiece, or on different parts (separated by a bulkhead), thus allowing productivity to be doubled.
The K-range of 5-axis high speed milling systems is designed specifically for both large plastic injection moulds and aerospace components. The fixed bed type machine structure gives consistency of forces independent of workpiece weight, allowing for optimum milling quality. Several models are available, with the largest machines extending beyond 10 m in the X-axis.
The Y2K series of double productivity 5-axis milling machines is essentially two K-series machines facing each other, sharing the same workpiece table. Y2K machines integrate all the benefits and versatility of two independent 5-axis milling systems driven by two synchronised CNCs. Productivity is therefore doubled compared to a traditional portal machine.
Fidia’s KR series of 6-axis high speed mills is based upon a K-line concept and characterised by the integration of the 5-axis head with a continuous rotary table. The rotary table is sized according to the machine application, and allows for the machining of workpieces of more than 2,000 mm in diameter. The use of the sixth axis as a rotary workpiece table guarantees maximum accessibility from all sides.
Fidia’s G996 is a compact upper gantry milling system characterised by its strong monolithic structure. It is aimed at the machining of small and medium-size workpieces, regardless of material properties. A large cast iron bed provides a stable platform, while its open front ensures wide visibility.
Last but not least, the Fidia H664 is a line of compact 5-axis machining centres with X-, Y- and Z-axis travels of 600, 560 and 400 mm, respectively. HS664V machines are equipped with a 1,000 x 550 mm ?xed table, while HS664RT machines have an integrated tilting rotary worktable.
From a CNC perspective, recent enhancements include new V5 ‘look ahead’ software that features new algorithms for tool path control with three and five interpolated axes including optimisation of the dynamic behaviour of the machine.
At MACH 2016, a Fidia machine will feature on TDT Technology’s 200 m2 stand (5440), the company’s largest.
