Rigid yet compact machining centre

Burkhardt + Weber (B+W) has incorporated the stiffness and power of its heavy-duty MCX horizontal machining centres into a new, smaller model, the MCC 630. In so doing, the company says it has created one of the most rigid and powerful machines in its class for producing prismatic components weighing up to 1.5 tonnes (including the fixture). Availability in the UK and Ireland is through Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools.

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The four-axis machine (including C-axis rotary table), has twin 630 mm (optionally 630 x 800 mm) pallets and a nominal 1 cu m working envelope. External dimensions are 8 x 3.3 x 3.5 m.
B+W’s MCC 630 can deliver 1300 Nm of torque continuously if a 41 kW gear-driven spindle is chosen instead of a 30 kW/300 Nm motor spindle. There is a further alternative of a +45/-110° tilting spindle of identical power (also new), which adds a fifth CNC axis.
Spindle speed is up to 6000 rpm, optionally 10,000 rpm, while an ISO50 tool interface can be specified instead of the standard HSK-A100 with a tool clamping force of 45 kN. The tool changer serves a tool magazine with 64 pockets that can be doubled in size on request.
Productivity is promoted by a cutting feed force of 17.5 kN and 7 m/s2 acceleration to 60 m/min rapids in the linear axes, which are fitted with linear scales for feeding positional data back to the Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl control. B+W integrates a high level of Industry 4.0 monitoring and networking capability into its machines, offering data acquisition and communication for efficient production, process safety and timely maintenance.
For further information www.geokingsbury.com

Wele HMC500 launched in UK

The latest addition to the Wele range of machining centres is the HMC500 horizontal spindle model, which offers positioning accuracy of ±0.005 mm in the X, Y and Z axes, and a repeatability of ±0.003 mm over the full working strokes of 640 mm in X, 610 mm in Y and 680 mm in Z. With 60 m/min rapid traverse rates in each axis, positioning times are reduced, contributing to shorter cycle times and higher levels of productivity.

Launched in the UK by 2D CNC Machinery, the 500 mm twin-pallet machine (optional 400 mm pallet size) has a maximum workpiece capacity within a cylinder diameter of 750 x 900 mm high with a full B axis. The B axis has 1600 Nm of torque and a positioning accuracy of 10 arc-secs (with a repeatability of 6 arc-secs). Also featured is a zero-point clamping system via four radial pre-tensioned tapers to ensure alignment. Index times are 1.5 seconds with a pallet interchange time of 7 seconds.
The built-in 22 kW, Big-Plus dual-contact spindle has a speed range between 40 and 15,000 rpm with up to 167 Nm of torque available through a low and high-range transmission. Spindle acceleration and deceleration is 3.3 seconds. In order to minimise any deformation caused through variable cutting forces or thermal effects, the spindle head is mounted between twin box-type gantry columns, while the cast-iron bed is supported via three-point levelling.
There is a 60-tool magazine, providing 3 seconds chip-to-chip time, which is capable of carrying tools up to 80 mm diameter (or 160 mm with adjacent pockets left empty). Maximum tool length is 400 mm. Control is via Fanuc 0i-MF.
For further information www.2dcnc.co.uk

Casting co-op

Japan Engineering Network (JEN) and SMS group KK based in Tokyo, Japan, have signed a business partnership agreement on repair services for continuous casting moulds. JEN will perform aftersales activities in close co-operation with SMS group for the new condition monitoring system HD moldFO, which features an extremely high measuring point density over the full height of the mould.

ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe

The positions of the measurement points can be freely chosen to allow more precise monitoring of the processes in the mould. SMS group’s service offer will also include mould coating with UniGuard technology.
For further information www.sms-group.com

£65m NMIS

Renfrewshire will be home to the new £65m National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS), with the University of Strathclyde announced as the anchor university. Work to build the centre, which is intended to help manufacturing businesses throughout Scotland become world leaders in innovation, will begin this year.

The Scottish Government will invest £48m in NMIS with £8m from the University of Strathclyde. Renfrewshire Council will provide a further £39.1m through the Glasgow City Region Deal to support wider infrastructure work at the site. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Economy Secretary Keith Brown made the announcement during a visit to Rolls-Royce’s manufacturing facility in Inchinnan. Rolls-Royce is a founding member of the University of Strathclyde’s AFRC. Speaking after a meeting with some of Scotland’s leading manufacturers, the First Minister said: “This facility will help companies across Scotland embrace new manufacturing techniques, support cutting-edge research and further develop skills. The manufacturing jobs of the future offer exciting and rewarding careers for young people. We want to inspire them to work in this sector and revive Scotland’s tradition of manufacturing and engineering.”
For further information www.strath.ac.uk

Large capacity VTLs from Broadbent Stanley

Broadbent Stanley has announced a strategic agency agreement with Radar Industrial, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of CNC VTLs. The agreement will see Broadbent Stanley actively marketing and selling the Radar range in many markets, including the UK, Ireland, Egypt, Africa and the Middle East.

Radar VTLs are available in three model designations: the RAL-12, RAL-16 and RAL-20. The machines offer maximum turning diameters ranging from 1500 to 2400 mm, and turning heights up to 1600 mm – with a maximum workpiece weight of 13,000 kg on the largest machine. All three models come with the Fanuc 0i-TF CNC. As standard, Radar VTLs are equipped with a 12-position tool changer, which can be increased to 18 on the optional M-specification machines, with nine of those positions being capable of handling driven tooling powered by a 15 kW motor (with up to 2400 rpm available for the live tooling).
For further information www.broadbentstanley.co.uk