Automated Chiron machine at tooling producer

During machining, the cooling of tool’s indexable insert is an important factor for workpiece precision, chip breakage and tool life. The closer to the cutting edge, the better. One company that has mastered the art of cooling milling and turning tools is family business Aleit, based in Steffenberg. Machines from Chiron and Studer are the first choice for the production of the company’s tools and holders.

Aleit recently relocated an entire product family to a Chiron FZ 16 S machining centre with automation, which was actually acquired for a completely different task.

Roland Ranisch, managing director of FS Filter and regional representative for the Chiron Group, remembers: “Aleit decided on the FZ 16 S a good four years ago to produce a range of different variants of PSC tool shaft interfaces in five axes. As an automated solution, we provided the machine with a VarioCell system featuring a drawer system.”

He continues: “The programs were implemented; the results were correct; everything went as planned. Then came the unexpectedly high demand for Aleit’s ‘stabbing swords’ and there was an immediate need for more production capacity. The idea: distribute the PSC tools to the company’s mill-turn centres and convert the 16 S, including automation, for grooving blade production.”

The task was possible without much effort: the drawer inserts were given new templates for the blanks and finished grooving blades, a new device was added for the storage point between the robot and the machine to ensure dimensionally accurate orientation during loading, and the robot was trained.

“Since this change, the system has been running in two shifts,” says Ranisch. “Importantly, the process is reliable and highly productive.”

More information www.chiron-group.com

New investment strategy pays major dividends

MACH Machine Tools has recently supplied South Shields-based HQ Fabrications with two new CNC machines. The MACH MDV 1160 vertical machining centre and MACH MDS 845-8T toolroom mill were installed at the company’s 790 m² facility in Jarrow towards the end of last year. Both machines, equipped with the DynaPath control system, have been working flat out machining jigs and fixtures, as well as prototypes, one-offs and small batches of pre-production and production parts for a diverse range of UK customers.

HQ Fabrications regularly monitors and evaluates the performance of its machine tools and, to enable the machining of larger workpieces, made the decision in early 2024 to invest in the new MACH MDV 1160 three-axis vertical machining centre.

“Up to that point we had always invested in pre-owned machines,” says Chris Hall, HQ Fabrications’ owner and managing director. “However, one of our existing used machines that we had identified for machining larger workpieces, wasn’t as reliable as we had originally hoped.”

He continues: “We were a little apprehensive investing in a new machine, but representatives from MACH Machine Tools simplified the whole process from machine identification through to delivery, installation and commissioning. They even offered us a great part-exchange trade-in deal on the previously mentioned used machine.”

The positive experience resulted in the company further strengthening its in-house milling capabilities by investing in a second machine: a MACH MDS 845-8T toolroom mill.

“Our two new MACH machines are proving to be a great investment,” concludes Hall. “MACH Machine Tools’ open and transparent approach, combined with their technical know-how and readily-available support, made the whole process quick and seamless.”

More information www.machmt.co.uk

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