Which Die-sinking EDM Machine Brand Is Better? How to Choose Between Domestic and Imported Brands?

In the field of precision molds and high-end parts manufacturing, die-sinking EDM machines are indispensable core equipment. However, for purchasers faced with a dazzling array of brands — from international names like Swiss and Japanese manufacturers to rapidly rising domestic players — it is common to fall into the dilemma of “fearing budget overruns with imports, and fearing insufficient performance with domestics.”

In fact, the question “which die-sinking EDM machine brand is better” depends on your processing scenarios, accuracy requirements, and budget range. Brands at different levels each have their strengths. The key is to find the one that best suits your needs.

This article helps clarify your selection approach from four dimensions: market landscape, technical characteristics, price positioning, and service system.

I. Market Landscape: Three Camps, Each with Its Strengths

Currently, the die-sinking EDM machine market can be roughly divided into three camps:

First camp: International high-end brands, represented by GF Machining Solutions (AgieCharmilles) from Switzerland, Sodick from Japan, and Makino from Japan. These brands possess decades or even over a century of technological accumulation, leading the industry in ultraprecision machining, fiveaxis simultaneous control, and automation integration. Their products are widely used in fields that demand extreme accuracy and surface quality, such as aerospace engine blades, optical molds, and precision medical devices. However, correspondingly, equipment prices are high — typically in the millions — and aftersales service and spare parts supply are also relatively expensive.

Second camp: Taiwanese and joint-venture brands. They have built a good reputation in general mold and precision parts processing, offering balanced technology and moderate prices. For a long time, they occupied a significant share of the domestic midtohigh end market.

Third camp: Domestic elite brands, represented by Beijing NOVICK and others. In recent years, domestic die-sinking EDM machines have made significant technological progress, achieving breakthroughs in core technologies such as CNC systems, pulse power supplies, and discharge control. According to industry research data, the market share of domestic highend EDM machines is expected to increase from about 30% in 2024 to around 50% by 2030. More and more domestic manufacturing enterprises are choosing domestic equipment to replace imported models, achieving cost reduction and efficiency improvement.

II. Imported Brands: The Ceiling of Accuracy and Automation

If you need to machine complex parts with micronlevel accuracy, or require fully unattended flexible production lines, international highend brands remain the leading choice.

Take the 19th China International Machine Tool Exhibition (CIMT2025) as an example. The three major international brands showcased their cuttingedge technologies: Makino introduced the EDAF2i Ultra die-sinking EDM machine, featuring an optimized intelligent Hyper i controller that completes machining setup in just three steps, reducing operating steps by about 40%, and combined with HQSc flawless machining technology, producing highquality discharge textures without pinholes. Sodick launched the A35LBs, which can form a “onetotwo” flexible workcell with automation units, automatically generating machining conditions using AI technology and significantly shortening machining time. GF Machining Solutions‘ FORM P600 integrates the intelligent highspeed pulse generator (ISPG), maximizing material removal rate while maintaining highprecision surface quality.

The positioning of these products is typically for scenarios such as aerospace and ultraprecision molds that have extremely high requirements for ultimate accuracy and automation.

III. Domestic Brands: Technological Catchup and High CostEffectiveness

Returning to the actual needs of most enterprises — mold manufacturing, automotive parts, 3C electronics, medical devices, etc. — accuracy requirements typically range from ±0.005 mm to ±0.01 mm, and surface roughness requirements of Ra ≤ 0.2 μm meet the vast majority of scenarios.

Within this range, domestic die-sinking EDM machines have become fully competitive. Some industry analyses point out that when domestic equipment uses imported core components, the overall accuracy gap compared to imported models can be controlled within 5%, while the aftersales service response speed is about three times faster. The real advantages of domestic equipment are: under the premise of meeting processing requirements, the acquisition cost is significantly lower, aftersales response is faster, and spare parts supply is more timely.

Take Beijing NOVICK‘s AF Series Precision CNC Die-sinking EDM Machines as an example. Their technical strength is reflected in several aspects:

·Highrigidity Ramtype structure: Fixed worktable, high load capacity, good stability — especially suitable for large mold processing.

·Alldigital pulse power supply and fuzzy logic algorithms: Realtime optimization of the discharge gap, high processing efficiency, low electrode wear.

·Mirrorgrade surface quality: Under test conditions (copper electrode, S136 mirror steel), the optimal surface roughness can reach Ra ≤ 0.1 μm — after machining, the surface is ready for injection molding without extensive polishing.

·Rich automation options: Supports Caxis fouraxis simultaneous control and AEC (Automatic Electrode Changer) — up to 4 tools for AF50, up to 5 tools for AF70 — enabling continuous automatic multielectrode processing.

·Expert process parameter database: Covers various material combinations including steel, copper, cemented carbide, and titanium alloy, lowering the operational threshold.

·Comprehensive aftersales support: Multiple service locations nationwide, providing fulllifecycle support from installation and commissioning, operation training, to remote diagnostics.

In fact, NOVICK‘s EDM machines have gained recognition in the fields of injection molds, diecasting molds, optical parts, microsensors, and others because they can achieve ultrasmooth surface roughness below Ra ≤ 0.2 μm.

IV. Imported or Domestic? Three Dimensions to Help You Decide

Returning to the original question: which die-sinking EDM machine brand is better? How to choose between imported and domestic? You can decide based on the following three dimensions:

1. Matching budget with accuracy requirements

·If you have a sufficient budget and your processing scenario requires extreme accuracy within ±0.002 mm, fiveaxis simultaneous control, and fully flexible production lines, international highend brands are a suitable choice.

·If your budget is relatively limited, your processing accuracy requirements are within ±0.005 mm, and you desire fast aftersales response, domestic elite brands offer better overall costeffectiveness.

2. Aftersales service and response speed

·For most small and mediumsized manufacturing enterprises, the loss from equipment downtime is often more concerning than the equipment itself. Imported brands‘ service networks are typically concentrated in a few firsttier cities, and spare parts sourced from overseas have long lead times.

·Domestic brands, on the other hand, have multiple service locations nationwide, ample spare parts inventory, and more timely aftersales response and onsite repair. According to industry data, the aftersales service response speed of domestic equipment can be about three times faster than that of imported brands.

3. Longterm operating costs

·In addition to the equipment price itself, factors such as electrode wear rate, replacement frequency of dielectric fluid and filter cartridges, and repair part prices all affect longterm operating costs. Domestic brands generally have lower total costs in these aspects.

V. Conclusion

There is no single correct answer to the choice of die-sinking EDM machine brand — only the solution that best fits your needs. International brands represent the technological frontier and are suitable for users pursuing ultimate accuracy and high automation levels. Domestic brands, while meeting the vast majority of precision machining requirements, offer more competitive prices and more timely service.

The Beijing NOVICK AF Series, as a representative of domestic die-sinking EDM machines, provides proven solutions in structural rigidity, discharge control, surface quality, automation configuration, and service system. If you are evaluating die-sinking EDM machines, we recommend bringing your own typical workpiece or 3D drawing file and scheduling an onsite trial cut. Regardless of which brand you ultimately choose, letting actual results speak for themselves is always the most reliable selection method.