FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

New technology cycle for DMG Mori machines

At its recent 2026 in-house exhibition in Pfronten, DMG Mori presented the company’s Adaptive Drilling Control (ADC) technology cycle, which it describes as a new milestone in process reliability, quality and ease of use for drilling on universal machining centres.

Deep-hole drilling and gun drilling in particular place high demands on the operator and the machine. The new DMG Mori technology makes the process controllable. ADC transforms a complex technology that was previously based on experience into an actively controlled and monitored drilling process, with measurable standards for process reliability, increased quality and service life, ease of operation, process monitoring, and energy efficiency.

When performing deep-hole drilling,chip jams, misaligned holes, cross holes or tool breakage not only result in scrap but also jeopardise delivery dates and customer relationships. This is especially the case for components with high added value, such as crankshafts, injection systems, turbine components and medical implants.

With the increasing transfer of deep-hole drilling work to universal machining centres, responsibilities are shifting. Highly specific requirements are encountering an environment where not every operator has expert knowledge specific to deep drilling. Classic cycles work with rigid parameters here. As soon as the material, tool condition, or cooling lubricant deviates from the ideal, the process risk increases abruptly.

Adaptive Drilling Control from DMG Mori addresses this weak point. The process is no longer just set, but actively and adaptively controlled. Sensors for pressure, flow and load continuously provide status information, which the ADC cycle uses to control the coolant supply and machining strategy in a closed control loop.

The technology increases process reliability and quality and extends service life by 30%. Energy savings of up to 30%provide a further positive impact.

More information www.dmgmori.com

Next-generation SYIL machining centres in the spotlight

SYIL CNC UK presented an impressive line-up of high-performance machining centres and automation technology at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026 exhibition in Farnborough earlier this month. Four machines were demonstrated on the company’s stand, all featuring cutting tools from partner TaeguTec UK.

At the heart of SYIL’s exhibition was the unveiling of the redesigned X5 and X7 VMCs, representing a significant evolution in the company’s range. According to the company, the new designs prioritise ergonomics and aesthetics while maintaining the robust engineering that has established SYIL’s reputation for quality at competitive price points. Key improvements include enhanced door operation, optimised swarf removal systems, an upgraded 12-inch Siemens control system and improved visibility.

Visitors to the stand witnessed live cutting demonstrations on both the X5 and larger X9 machining centre. The X5 and X9 showcased TaeguTec’s latest high-feed milling technology, including the Chase4Feed line with its versatile four-corner BLMP inserts designed specifically for high-feed operations. The Chase4Feed’s robust circular insert geometry enables high performance in facing, shouldering, ramping and cavity machining applications, delivering depths of cut up to 2 mm while maintaining smooth surface finish.

Complementing this tool was the TaeguTec WINMILL series, featuring small carbide inserts with V-shaped pocket designs that provide high clamping strength and stability in compact diameter cutters.TaeguTec’s WINMILL line incorporates an enhanced cutting edge design and high rake angle that reduce cutting loads and improve chip evacuation, making it suitable for the precision shoulder milling applications.

Additionally, the latest solid-carbide TEO and TED drilling line from TaeguTec featured prominently, showcasing high-performance drilling. A major attraction on stand E185 was the X7 VMC equipped with SYIL’s KUKA-powered robot loading system. The R1 tending system features a 16-station pick-and-play configuration that enables fully automated part handling.

More information https://uk.syil.com, www.taegutec.com

Rainford to present Kern machines at MACH 2026

Rainford Precision will present micron-precise three- and five-axis machine tools from Kern Microtechnik at the MACH 2026 exhibition (NEC Birmingham, 20-24 April). In particular, Rainford will introduce the precision features of the newly launched Kern Micro HD+. This machine is the latest development in Kern’s Micro HD series, enhancing the patented micro-gap hydrostatic technology beyond linear axes to include fully hydrostatic B and C rotational axes.

The Micro HD+ offers significantly improved axial and radial run-out accuracy, increased dynamics through more powerful motors and topology-optimised structures, high rigidity thanks to hydrostatic rotary and swivel axes, and enhanced thermal stability via active cooling of all bearing components. The result is high-speed dynamic movement while maintaining micron-level precision over extended production runs.

With the machine’s compact platform, users canproduce workpieces up to 350mm diameter and 400mm in length, with an integrated tool changer that accommodates up to 210 tools. It achieves Ra0.05µm in serial production, often removing the need for finishing processes.

For the ultra-precise machining of larger parts, Kern has also introduced the Fortis HD (pictured). With a much larger working envelope, this machine incorporates a shaft-cooled high-speed spindle, a single-sided bearing mount, four-stage cooling and linear drives. The result is a machine with the micron precision and repeatability associated with the Kern HD, but in a substantial five-axis machining platform offering an X, Y, Zaxis travel of 780 x 420 x 450mm with 120° in the Baxis and 360° continuous rotation in the Caxis. Imagine retaining ultra-high precision with the flexibility to extend it to large parts – users now can with the Kern Fortis HD.

More information www.rainfordprecision.com

CNC bed mills released by MACH Machine Tools

The new MACH MDM 700-AR and MACH MDM 1000-AR CNC bed mills provide customers with high cutting performance, life-long precision, built-in flexibility and unrivalled reliability at a cost that, according to Dave Andrew, managing director of Vigilance Group (of which MACH Machine Tools is part), “will make your jaw drop and the guys in accounts smile”.

Both machines feature BT 40 spindles (5,000 rpm), roller-type linear guideways and large worktables (up to 1525 x 350 mm for the larger MDM 1000-AR model). The machines deliver positional and repeatable accuracies of 0.006 and 0.003 mm, respectively.

MDM 700-AR/MDM 1000-AR machines are supplied with the established DynaPath CNC integrated with MACH Machine Tools’ free, 24/7, Wi-Fi enabled ‘Remote Assist’ facility.Remote Assist provides customers with expert applications and service support, including free software updates, for the life of the machine.

“With Remote Assist, the 20 minute maximum response time to customer queries means that machine downtime is kept to an absolute minimum, which is proving a massive draw for customers,” says Andrew.

The DynaPath control includes: conversational and ISO/G code programming capabilities, making it easy to program machines on the shop floor;64 Gb on-board storage and 10,000 block look-ahead capability that ensure fast processing speed complemented by improved accuracy and smoother surface finish; functions such as datum setting using alignment, sub-program calling, the use of macro-programming, the ability to facilitate program simulation using tool path or 3D rendered graphics, and programmable spindle control; a DXF and onboard DXF editor; and a multitude of communication methods, including Wi-Fi connectivity.

As with all MACH machines, MDM-AR models are supplied, as standard, with technology features that include: 15.6” touchscreens, manual pulse generators, air power drawbars and coolant equipment.

More information www.machinetoolsalesonline.com

Powermill HPC3 gantry mill destined for China

Among the gantry mills manufactured by Mecof for large components, the Powermill HPC3, built for a Chinese customer, combines power, precision and operational flexibility. This portal milling machine is designed to meet the complex needs of the electrical cable manufacturing industry, but with features that also make it suitable for other high-production applications.

With axis strokes of 12 m in X, 4 m in Y and 2.5 m in Z, the portal architecture of the Powermill HPC3, combined with its box-in-box design, ensures rigidityand thermal stability.The latest-generation Siemens Sinumerik ONE numerical control guarantees optimal cycle management and the digital integration of production processes.

One of the machine’s strengths is its ability to manage different interchangeable heads, all designed for automatic changeover.The universal bi-rotary head with automatic millesimal positioning offers ample power (38 kW), torque (1000Nm) and speed (6000 rpm) for complex machining operations, while the more compact vertical spindle head meets the need for precision and versatility. The latter offers 15 kW of power, 390 Nm of torque and a speed of 3000 rpm.Both heads feature an ISO 50 connection.

Productivity arrives courtesy of a 64-position tool magazine (two chains of 32 positions), integrated into the shoulder of the machine, with independent chains to maximise changeover speed. The machine also features a complete measurement and control system, which includes a Renishaw radio probe, kinematic measurement, and tools for checking tool length and diameter.

Intensive milling requires effective cooling. For this reason, the Powermill HPC3 destined for China is equipped with a dual cooling system, both external and internal to the spindle (up to 40 bar), 2000-litre collection and filtering tanks, and flow control devices.

More information www.bit.ly/4tFgmQu