FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Toolmaker diversifies into five-axis machining

Located in the centre of Birmingham, press toolmaker Tooling 2000 began trading more than 50 years ago. Since 1996 it has focused mainly on the design, production and try-out of tools for the automotive industry, notably for Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and Rolls-Royce/Bentley.

With a view to strengthening its position in the industry and breaking into the provision of subcontract machining services to other sectors, such as power generation and renewables, the company has invested £1.8m in the past two years in new plant and hiring extra people.

A significant proportion of the spend has gone on acquiring new machine tools from Hurco, including the toolmaker’s first two five-axis machining centres, VMX60SRTi and VMX42SRTi models.The SRTi configuration is rapidly becoming Hurco’s most popular five-axis model. The torque motor-driven, swivelling B-axis spindle head and 600 mm diameter Caxis set flush into a fixed machine table create a compact, high-capacity platform that can serve as a large-capacity three/four-axis machine whenever required.

Tooling 2000’s manufacturing director Brian Abbott says: “In recent yearswe’ve seen growing demand from customers for the supply of more complex components that require five-axis machines to produce them cost effectively.The technology was a step into the unknown for us, so the availability of support from the machine supplier was paramount. As an existing Hurco user, we were comfortable with sourcing our first five-axis machines from them, particularly in view of the user-friendly, twin-screen controls.”

Machine operator Dean Henning adds: “Hurco machines are best suited to our type of work because the conversational control with WinMax software is easy to use and we can program most jobs on the shop floor. Even on the 5-axis models we can use the Hurco control to program 3+2-axis cycles.For more complex work, the option of inputting a DXF file from CAD into the Hurco control and using the drawing as the basis for creating the part program is especially useful and fast.”
For further information www.hurco.co.uk

Nakamura extends next-level machining

Following hot on the heels of the new Nakamura-Tome SC-200II machine that recently launched as an evolution beyond its predecessor, the SC-200, Nakamura is now introducing the new SC-200IIL. This latest iteration is available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG).

The SC-200IIL turning centre inherits many of the main specifications of the SC-200II and its concept of ‘next-level machining’. However, the SC-200IIL expands the distance between centres, evolving into a machine capable of producing long workpieces. This development allows users to select the R-side specifications from the sub-spindle or NT tailstock units. While the SC200II has a maximum turning diameter of 390mm and a 510mm distance between spindles, the new SC-200IIL increases this distance to 715mm between centres, with 800mm between spindles.

Like the SC-200II multi-tasking lathe, the SC-200IIL provides a powerful and stable machining platform under challenging conditions. Despite the machine being in the 8” chuck size class, it has a swing over the bed of 620mm diameter, providing a large machining area for a small footprint machine.This configuration also enables the machine to accommodate a 10” chuck if required. The output of the spindle motor is now to 15/11kW, with the option of an 18.5/15kW motor.

Similar to the SC-200II, the SC-200IIL has high acceleration rates that enable the operator to machine larger parts and expand the scope and variety of components considerably.

Nakamura-Tome CEO Shogo Nakamura says: “Since this machine is capable of processing large billets and bars that would normally require a machine one size larger, the SC-200IIL has arrived to deliver favourable changes to factory floors.”
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Expediting production of high-precision blades

GF Machining Solutions (GFMS) recently introduced, via its Liechti Engineering AG subsidiary, a high-performance simultaneous five-axis machining dedicated to the fast and efficient processing of high-precision blades used in the aerospace and power generation industries. The Liechti Turbomill 500g, with a whole host of features that include Liechti’s g-technology and ‘Tool Pivot Point’ machining capability, helps manufacturers machine high-quality, competitively-priced blade components in double-quick time, reports the company.

The machine, equipped with a 20,000 rpm HSK-A63 StepTec spindle and up to 2000 rpm turning capability, boasts 2 g acceleration/deceleration rates and 60 m/min linear feed rates, ensuring that the Turbomill 500g gets down to business fast. According to GFMS, the machine helps to reduce part cycle times by up to 30%.

These ultra-fast processing speeds do not compromise accuracy or quality as the Turbomill 500g can achieve blade accuracies of ±0.015 mm, and surface finishes of 0.4 µm. To ensure high-productivity through unattended operation, users can opt to equip the Turbomill 500g with a bar feeder that automatically loads bar stock into the machine.

For consistent, high-quality part production, the machine features direct-drive motors (on all five axes), as well as an internal bed cooling system and intelligent thermal compensation that helps stabilise machining temperatures and reduce the effects of thermal drift. The machine is also equipped with Liechti’s 100 rpm Tool Pivot Point innovation which, available on the machine’s B axis, ensures fast and accurate contouring around blade edges. Reduced movement of the linear axis delivers shorter cycle times, higher positional accuracies and less mechanical wear.
For further information www.gfms.com

A new dawn at Norton Motorcycle Company

One of the great names in British motorcycling is rising again under new ownership and with new state-of-the-art machining technology. The Norton name is synonymous with the golden age of British motorcycling that ran from the end of the 19th century to the second decade of the 21st. It is a history that takes in Grand Prix wins in the 1930s to World Championships in the 50s.

Alas, the decline of British motorbike manufacturing led the company to the brink of bankruptcy and it was only the intervention of Indian motorbike manufacturing giant, TVS, which saved it in 2020. Following the new investment, a willingness to embrace new ways of working led Norton to examine its bike frame fabrication processes.

“Previously, we’d been hand bending and hand scalloping the bike frames because we didn’t know how to do anything different,” says Adam Green, senior manufacturing process engineer at Norton Motorcycles. “We looked at various options, but wanted to invest in the best-available machine. Mazak are the kind of people we want to be doing business with.”

Norton specified a VTC 800/30SLR, manufactured in nearby Worcester, which has a high-capacity working area and a wide door opening making it suitable for larger workpieces, such as motorbike frames.

“The size of the frame meant we needed a big machine, but also one that could work to very high tolerances,” says Green. “It’s all about repeatability. The machine takes away manual process. Now every single dimension will be within 0.2 mm of each other. We’ve tightened tolerances up by 80%, whereas previously there was 6 mm of difference at times from one frame to another.”
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Five-axis travelling-column machine offers versatility

A new, larger size of travelling column machining centre in the DMF range manufactured by DMG Mori is now available to provide even more versatile production opportunities within a machining envelope of 3000 x 1100 x 1050 mm. The modular DMF 300|11 with B-axis swivelling spindle head represents a redesign of the established configuration that, compared with the previous series, has seen a 40% expansion in working volume and a 20% increase build rigidity.

The ±120° B-axis houses an integrated 15,000 rpm speedMASTER HSK-A63 spindle as standard, but is available with a 20,000 rpm version, or with a 12,000 rpm powerMASTER spindle offering 288 Nm torque.

The rigid table running the length of the DMF 300|11 accepts workpieces weighing up to 5000 kg for the three- and four-axis machining of large components. Alternatively, it is possible to insert an optional partition in the centre to allow safe pendulum machining of smaller parts.

Fully interpolative five-axis machining can take place at either or both ends, or else in the centre, following the addition of one or two optional rotary tables set flush into the main table surface. The machine can accommodate components weighing 1200 kg, while each C axis is available with a torque drive to provide the possibility of in-cycle turning operations at up to 700 rpm.

In some cases, it may be more expedient to add one or more A-axis rotary tables to enable five-axis operations on horizontally-mounted parts weighing up to 500 kg. It is equally feasible to mount a static column or tombstone on the table for work holding, swing the spindle head through 90° and use the DMF 300|11 as a horizontal machining centre with the added benefit of B-axis motion.
For further information www.dmgmori.com