UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO - NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT: 19-019
High Speed CNC Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) System
The University of Waterloo (UW) intends to award a single source contract to Ultra Machine Sales, of 510 Rowntree Dairy Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L 8H2, for the purchase of a Sodick (Model VL600QH-LN2W) wire electrical discharge machining system, for post-processing of parts produced using advanced manufacturing processes required by our Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing (MSAM) Laboratory. The budget for this entire package is approximately $230,000 CAD, not including HST.
This is an Advanced Notice indicating to the supplier community that UW intends to award a contract for this equipment to a pre-identified supplier. If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date of this notice, a statement of specifications that satisfies the stated requirements set out in this Notice, the competitive requirements of the University are considered to have been met. Following notification to any suppliers not successful in demonstrating that their statement of specifications meets the requirements set out in this Notice, the contract may then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier.
If other potential suppliers submit statements of specifications during the fifteen calendar day posting period, and meet the requirements set out in this Notice, UW will proceed to a Request for Proposal process, in order to award the contract.
Process - Suppliers who can provide equivalent equipment with proven functionality required for the research, within budget, may submit a statement of specifications, in writing, to the contact person identified in this Notice on or before the closing date of this Notice. The statement of specifications must unequivocally demonstrate how the supplier meets these advertised requirements within budget.
SPECIFICATIONS -
The wire electrical discharge machining system Sodick (Model VL600QH-LN2W) described above required in the MSAM Laboratory consists of:
Technical Specifications
XYZ axes travel - At least 600 x 400 x 500 mm
XY/UV axes drive- High precision flat-rigid linear motors, with minimal friction and wear, no backlash, minimal maintenance, and minimal alignment needs.
Axes XY/UV - High precision absolute glass scales
Wire tensioning system - Precision wire tensioning system. The PWTS automatically adjusts the wire tension due to changes such as varying spool size and taper angle.
Wire threaded - Automatic wire threader, with decreased re-try movement.
Machining method - Flushing/submerged
Critical component corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, high rigidity - Custom ceramic upper and lower arm, table, and work pedestal
Positioning accuracy - 3 µm or better
Stroke repeatability - 2 µm or better
Surface roughness (Ra) finish capabilities - 0.55 µm or better
Surface roughness (Rz) finish capabilities - 4.5 µm or better
Custom ceramic components for machine stability - Upper and Lower Arms, Table, and Work Pedestal have ceramic components to minimize thermal distortion, have chemical corrosion resistance, and resistance to physical abrasion, good machining stability.
Warranty- 10 year warranty on positioning accuracy; 2 years parts and labour warranty
Training - In-house training must be available within budget
CSA Approvals - CSA Certification must be provided
SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION
The equipment package from Ultra Machine Sales, for the Sodick (Model VL600QH-LN2W) wire electrical discharge machining system, is comprehensive and offers highly reproducible results with high quality and reliability. The equipment is required for high precision finishing of additively manufactured parts, requiring minimal part distortion, high surface quality in removing components off the plate. High precision complex cuts will be required for minimizing material usage in additive manufacturing as well as for secondary component interface operations. The University is not aware of alternate single suppliers who can provide a complete system for part post-processing as described above.
The MSAM Laboratory is collaborating with the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada on this research project – the University of Waterloo has provided a schedule for the acquisition of the MSAM equipment installations that meets NRC’s timelines. Delivery lead times for this equipment are tight (less than 4 weeks from date of order).
Date of issue: Tuesday, February 26th, 2019
Closing Date: Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. EST
Contact:
Christine Wagner, CPPB, CSCP – Research Coordinator and Senior Buyer
Procurement and Contract Services
University of Waterloo
Ph: 519-888-4567 ext. 32074
Email – cpwagner@uwaterloo.ca, or, procure@uwaterloo.ca
