D.Electron and Cutlite Penta: innovation as teamwork

Can you tell us the story of your company?

D.Electron was born in 1977 around a group of technicians already expert in industrial automation for machine tools, thanks to its founder, Alessandro Dreoni. In the early years it mainly developed SCR drives for DC motors; in the early 1980s, at its customers' request, it introduced the Z16 numerical control.

Since then, research has never stopped: various operating systems (DOS, Windows, Linux), reliable communications (optical-fiber and Ethernet buses), digital drives with autotuning and resonance damping, touch-screens and internet teleservice. The main moments:

• 1977 — the company is founded
• 1982 — the first numerical control, the Z16
• 1993 — Z32, the first CNC on PC architecture with Intel processors
• 1996 — first generation of D.Electron three-phase digital drives
• 2006 — ZStar1 digital drives, with optical-fiber connection
• 2008 — Z32-FlorenZ, based on real-time Linux
• 2010 — ZStar2 digital drives
• 2016 — Z32-Slim and Slim-Drives: compact and high-performance
• 2017 — the Z32 opens to Modbus, Ethercat and SQL databases
• 2021 — new plant in Sesto Fiorentino
• 2022 — new Z32-FlorenZ on a 64-bit operating system

Today the company produces complete CNC packages for interpolating machine tools. The flagship product is the Z32, a multi-channel PC-based numerical control able to manage up to 32 axes with proprietary drives and a conversational software built around customers' needs.

What kind of products do you deal with?

D.Electron designs and produces numerical controls and servo drives for industrial automation. The main fields of application:

• Milling machines, including 5-axis, and FMS systems
• Lathes
• Cutting machines (plasma, laser, waterjet)
• Machines for marble or wood working

One of our strengths is the close technical collaboration with our customers.

How did you get to know Cutlite Penta?

The relationship stems from a personal acquaintance between Alessandro Dreoni and Professor Leonardo Masotti: a meeting between two innovative industrial companies from the same area.

The first chance to work together came in 2001, when Cutlite Penta proposed applying the Z32 numerical control to its CO2 laser cutting machines, to improve their behavior and performance.

Have you developed or updated new technologies with Cutlite Penta?

Many applications required customizing D.Electron products, mainly on the software, one of the most important components in managing fiber laser cutting systems. Some of the most significant developments:

• Optimized, real-time management of the height between the laser cutting head and the sheet, in every condition (3-axis, 5-axis, tube cutting, bevel cutting), with suppression of machine oscillations
• A special numerical control (Z32-MAR) to manage laser marking heads with galvanometric mirrors
• A data-exchange device (GPIO) for direct dialogue between El.En group sources and the Z32 CNC
• Raster applications to use the laser cutting machine like an inkjet printer

How does your sector change over time?

The most important developments of recent years concern the communication between the numerical control and the outside world: from Industry 4.0 to cloud technologies, up to opening toward other software, supervisors and machines.

The CNC is no longer an isolated component driving a single machine: it becomes the node of a network of machines and software that exchange information, communicating with production management systems too. The increase in precision and speed of axis movement remains fundamental.

What plans do you have for the future?

We want to grow D.Electron, both technically and in market position. The new site is an important step for logistics and production organization. On products, we are developing the next generation of Z32 and servo drives, a completely new project that combines:

• Higher performance
• Easier installation and diagnostics
• Optimization of the production process and costs

Frequently asked questions

Who is D.Electron?

A company founded in 1977, a reference in high technology for machine tools: it designs and produces numerical controls and servo drives for industrial automation.

What is the relationship between D.Electron and Cutlite Penta?

D.Electron develops the numerical control (Z32) and the software of Cutlite Penta fiber laser cutting systems. The collaboration started in 2001.

What is the Z32 numerical control?

A multi-channel PC-based CNC that manages up to 32 axes with proprietary drives and conversational software.

What developments did D.Electron make for Cutlite Penta?

Among others: real-time management of the head-to-sheet height in every cutting condition, a CNC for marking heads, direct dialogue with El.En sources and raster applications.