Upgraded machining head offers double speed

Machine tool manufacturer Unisign says that its compact right-angle machining head has received an upgrade. Thanks to the enhancement, maximum speed has doubled from 3000 to 6000 rpm, allowing machine shops to mill faster and more efficiently with their Unisign CNC machines. According to the company, these higher cutting speeds translate into significant time savings when producing components.

The upgraded compact angular head can be used on Unisign CNC machines – in both the company’s portal and multi task series – equipped with interchangeable heads. Specifically designed for flexible machining in narrow spaces, the compact right-angle head enables machine shops to tackle complex shapes and hard-to-reach areas with ease. As a result, users can ensure they get the most out of their milling operations.

The compact angular head is available in two different lengths: 300 and 430 mm (vertical distance from the main spindle nose to the spindle of the compact angular head). It has an offset distance (horizontal distance from the spindle nose to the centre of the head) of 125 mm. Notably, the angular head features an automatic tool changer with HSK-63A tooling system.

With this product enhancement, Unisign says its continues to deliver solutions that optimise production workflow at busy machine shops. The upgraded compact right-angle machining head is a case in point, helping users to save both time and effort.

More information www.unisign.com

DMG Mori Launches New Machining Centres

At its in-house exhibition held in Pfronten, Germany, earlier this month, DMG Mori launched five new production platforms under its Machining Transformation (MX) strategy.

The DMU 60 eVo second-generation five-axis machining centre, with its proprietary table kinematics and proven machine concept, has been developed further to meet increasing demands for precision, dynamics and flexibility. The machine, which made its world premiere at the exhibition, integrates several manufacturing processes, including mill-turn machining, gear hobbing using the GearSkiving technology cycle, and grinding. Intelligent automation solutions optimise machine utilisation around the clock, if required.

Also launched at the show was the Ultrasonic 20 linear third-generation five-axis machine featuring ultrasonic-supported milling and optional grinding. It is especially well suited to processing materials such as composites. Experience gained from the installation of 600 predecessor models has allowed the manufacturer to raise positioning accuracy to 2 µm in the linear axes and 2 seconds of arc in the rotary swivelling axis.

The machining centre is the manufacturer’s most accurate simultaneous five-axis model. Superimposing tool rotation with ultrasonic amplitudes of up to 15 µm reduces process forces by 50% and enables higher feed rates, improved surface finish and longer tool life.

Based on the proven design of the three-axis DMV vertical milling machines, DMG Mori also demonstrated its new DMX 60 U and DMX 80 U production centres for five-sided machining of complex workpieces weighing up to 300 and 350 kg respectively. With travels of 600 x 600 x 510 mm for the DMX 60 U and 800 x 600 x 510 mm for the larger model, the new machining centres cover a variety of applications, particularly in the die and mould sector.More information www.dmgmori.com

Start-up opts for VMC from Mills CNC

Mills CNC has recently supplied Custom Metalworks – a start-up providing precision CNC machining and custom fabrication – with a new (fourth generation) DN Solutions DNM 5700 vertical machining centre. The machine, installed at the company’s machine shop facility in Ormskirk, Lancashire, features the latest FANUC i Plus control with 15” touchscreen, an 18.5 kW/12,000 rpm directly-coupled high-torque spindle (117.8 Nm), a 1050 x 570 mm worktable (with 1000 kg maximum table load) and a 30-tool position ATC.

Supplied to Custom Metalworks as part of the investment package, the machine was also delivered with a Detron GFA-200EH five-axis rotary table, Renishaw tool and table probing systems, and a Filtermist extraction unit.

Since installation, the DNM 5700 has been put through its paces machining a range of performance-critical plastic components for a manufacturer of patient positioning products and equipment used during surgical procedures. Custom Metalworks machines parts and sub-assemblies for the customer’s best-selling spine frame systems which are essentially table-top platforms positioned underneath the patient that can easily fit to any standard operating table.

“I was looking for a machine that delivered fast processing speeds, high accuracies and good surface finishes, and that would enable us to machine large and/or smaller multiple parts in a single set up,” explains Jack Eckersley, Custom Metalworks’ owner and managing director. “The DNM 5700, with its advanced spindle technology, rigid and thermally stable build, fast rapids and large working envelope seemed to offer the ideal solution. Having talked to Mills, I placed the order at the MACH 2024 exhibition. Since its arrival, the DNM 5700, following on-site training, has been in full operation ever since.”

More information www.millscnc.co.uk

Machining big parts 33% faster in half the space

Michael Phillips, joint owner with partner Wayne Robins of contract machining firm Atomic Precision, describes the company’s recently-purchased Japanese-built Brother Speedio U500Xd1 as “a Swiss army knife of five-axis machining centres”. His comment is due to the 30-taper machine’s quality, versatile functionality, compact footprint, and ability to complete an extensive range of jobs quickly and efficiently. Brother machines are sold and serviced in the UK and Ireland by sole agent Whitehouse Machine Tools.

Founded in East Hendred, Oxfordshire, a succession of 40-taper VMCs from another supplier arrived on the shop floor over the next four years, a trio of three-axis models and two five-axis machines. During that time, the subcontractor enjoyed an impressive growth rate of 50% year on year.

As a first step to raising productivity even further, the high-speed Brother U500Xd1 was installed and commissioned by Whitehouse Machine Tools in September 2024. The partners became aware of the machine at the Southern Manufacturing 2023 exhibition in Farnborough. After early hesitation regarding the smaller spindle interface, which later proved to be a non-issue, and benchmarking a couple of other 30-taper machines on the market, the order was placed.

“The area taken up on our shop floor by the U500Xd1 is half of the space that one of our 40-taper five-axis machines occupies, yet the 30-taper VMC actually produces larger parts,” explains Phillips. “Not only that, but the Speedio finishes an identical component in two-thirds of the time, as the non-cutting elements of cycles are incredibly short, so tools are in-cut for typically 90% of the time during a cycle. The linear axes accelerate at 2.2 g up to 56 m/min and chip-to-chip time is 1.3 seconds.”

More information www.wmtcnc.com

Kellenberger separates from Hardinge

Kellenberger AG, with headquarters in Goldach, Switzerland, has separated from the
Hardinge Group and will operate as Kellenberger Switzerland AG in the future. In addition to
Swiss brands Kellenberger, Voumard, Hauser and Tschudin, which cover internal, external
and jig grinding, the Usach brand will also be integrated. The portfolio of the Kellenberger
Switzerland AG will also include the hard turning and grinding machines of the Super-
Precision brand. All brands will take advantage of the worldwide Kellenberger sales and
service network.
More information www.kellenberger.com