CNC mill helps control tool-room work

Aylesbury-based motorsport specialist Goodfabs has invested in an XYZ SMX SLV turret mill to help it produce fabrication jigs.

“Because the exhaust systems we produce are bespoke, we either need the car here to fit the exhaust, which is impractical, or need a jig made to replicate the actual mounting points on the car,” says Paul Watson, process manager. “Prior to getting the XYZ SMX SLV we could only machine the smaller parts of jigs, with the rest being outsourced. And, while our subcontractor produced the quality and accuracy required, we suffered some loss of control. With lead times being short, control of production is vital to us.”
The XYZ SMX SLV is the largest turret mill available from XYZ Machine Tools (larger bed mills are available), with a table measuring 1473 x 305 mm that is capable of carrying components weighing up to 580 kg. This capacity is enhanced by axis travels of 1000 x 410 x 400 mm (X, Y, Z). The head can be tilted front to back by +45° to -45° and from left to right by +90° to -90°, with full 360° rotation of the turret possible. Customers have the option of a three-axis DRO (4th axis optional) or, can opt for the ProtoTrak control in either its two- or three-axis configuration. The latter being the choice
for Goodfabs.
“While we already have three- and five-axis machining capability to produce fittings for our exhaust systems, the addition of the XYZ turret mill has introduced an extra dimension to our machining capability,” says Watson.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Competitively priced five-axis machine

Stand CM40 will be the location for XYZ Machine Tools to showcase its UMC-5X simultaneous five-axis gantry-style machining centre.

XYZ says the machine is available at a very competitive price point, yet comes with technology such as traori (transformation orientation)/kinematic functions for five-axis simultaneous machining, as well as integrated smart machining technology and thermal growth compensation.
Of interest is that due to the table configuration and machine design, when the table is tilted 90° towards the rear (component facing forward), there remains 500 mm of Y-axis travel forward of the table surface. According to XYZ, this distance is much greater than many competitor machines, including those that quote the same axis travels as the UMC-5X, allowing larger workpieces to be machined.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Maximum machining performance

Open Mind Technologies will present the latest version of its hyperMILL CAD/CAM suite on Stand F20.

The key focus will be the hyperMILL MAXX Machining performance package. MAXX Machining incorporates novel strategies for roughing, finishing and drilling. Open Mind has also been instrumental in developing the next generation of conical barrel cutting tools for the five-axis tangent plane machining strategy within MAXX Machining. The conical barrel cutter has a large radius that enables correspondingly wide step-overs between tool paths.
In addition, Advanced Engineering will give the UK marketplace a first glance at some of the newly developed innovations launched at the recent AMB exhibition in Stuttgart. For instance, in the future, hyperMILL MAXX Machining will be available for 3D-optimised roughing, as well as for turning. Meanwhile, five-axis tangent machining is available for corner filleting, a function that is said to guarantee simple radius programming at surface boundaries.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Finishing first

On stand D50, PDJ Vibro says it will shine the spotlight on its range of new and refurbished bowls, barrels and high-energy centrifugal equipment, as well as its series of consumables and the company’s repair and subcontract finishing services. PDJ Vibro’s main, high-end vibratory bowl range has chamber sizes from 7.5 to 6000 litres. Alternatively, three competitively priced, entry-level models have process chamber capacities of 300, 150 and 75 litres. They are priced at about 25% less but are nevertheless built to a high specification.
For further information www.vibratoryfinishing.co.uk

Vericut 8.2

For those seeking out the latest advances in CNC machine simulation software, CGTech will be showcasing Vericut 8.2 on stand R45. Among the major upgrades are those relating to the user interface, force turning and additive manufacturing modules. A modernised user interface now uses a right-mouse-button ribbon to put favourite Vericut functions just a click away, and provide convenient access to external applications that programmers find useful. In addition, the configurable head-up display improves simulation monitoring and visibility by showing the NC program, or machining and cutting status information, overlaid on top of Vericut’s graphical views.
For further information www.cgtech.com