FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Gear hobber offers three configurations

When developing the AF160, maximum versatility was the key goal of the engineering department at the Swiss family enterprise Affolter Group, a specialist in high-precision gear-hobbing solutions. As a result, three gear-hobbing configurations are available.

With the optional quick-change system, machine operators can switch from one configuration to the next in only 30 minutes. In configuration I, both the C axis and the C’ prime axis are equipped with driven spindles. This set-up leads to increased cutting quality, more torque and higher rigidity. In addition, the set-up offers an A axis of±50° swing, making it ideal for the production of spur, helical, bevel, crowned and face gears.

With a tailstock on the C axis and a spindle on C’ prime axis (configuration II), the operator gets more flexibility. The A axis can move from -50° to +115°, making worm milling possible. This configuration is also suitable for all gear types mentioned above. In configuration III, the C axis remains empty and the C’ prime axis features a driven spindle. As a result, users can undertake thepower skiving of internal gears and the production of face gears.

TheAF72 part loader features a double gripper system for parallel loading and unloading, and a telescopic arm. Customers can select different configurations depending on the volume, product and application. It is possible to equipthe AF72 with up to five feeding rails, enabling users to preload more parts and let the machine work autonomously for more than 24 hours.

The AF160 is configurable for any application. Hobbing options include skiving by sensor detection, and integrating a deburring process into gear production with the addition of the AF54 deburring unit.
For further information www.affoltergroup.ch

Machining centre choice made pure and simple

Mills CNC has supplied Pure Innovate Manufacturing, a project management and engineering solutions provider, with a new high-performance machining centre.The machine, a DN Solutions DNM 5700 is now in-situat the company’s new and spacious ‘Innovation’ facility in Wallingford, just a few days after relocating its operations there. It is the first machine tool acquired by the company in its four-year history.

The DNM 5700 acquired by Pure Innovate is a three-axis vertical machining centre equipped with FANUC iPlus control and 15” touchscreen iHMI. Further features include an 18.5kW/12,000rpm directly-coupled spindle, 30-position ATC, large worktable and fast rapids. Mills CNC supplied the machine with through-spindle-coolant capability and a Renishaw tool and workpiece probing system to increase machining flexibility and improve process efficiencies.

Pure Innovate is the brainchild of managing director, Carl Joy, who says: “Having our own dedicated machining resource at the Innovation facility improves our flexibility and responsiveness.We’re can produce prototypes [including any iterations] quickly and efficiently – and means we’re not only able to deliver high-quality, fast turnaround machined prototypes, but also the processes developed and used to machine them.”

He continues: “To increase the scope and scale of our Innovation facility in the future, we are actively looking at investing in new technologies, like simultaneous five-axis machines, and developing our in-house capabilities further through processes such as additive manufacturing and composite machining.Nothing is off the table.”

Joy took the decision to invest in a DN Solutions DNM 5700 for a number of reasons.

“Pound for pound, the DNM 5700 is the ideal machine for us,” he states. “The machine is fast, flexible and accurate. It will enable us to machine high-precision prototypes and pre-production parts quickly.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Major upgrade to large 30-taper machine

Brother, the Japanese 30-taper machining centre manufacturer, has had a machine in its portfolio with a 1 m Xaxis for nearly a decade. The third iteration of this model sees the specification uprated in several key areas to boost capacity and versatility. Sole sales and service agent in Britain and Ireland is Whitehouse Machine Tools.

Now called Speedio W1000Xd2, the machine is the largest on the market in the 30-taper category. The extension of Z axis travel from 300 to 380 mm, together with a new option of a 250 mm column extension, means that users may place a much larger component under the spindle. If rotated in a trunnion, the swing diameter increases to 540 mm, and if fixtured directly on the table, maximum weight is 500 kg.

A benefit of having 1000 mm travel in the X axis is that users can machine either long components, or else a pair of smaller parts side by side. In the latter case, if they are undergoing Op 10 and Op 20, one comes off completely machined every time the doors open. Alternatively, machine shops may place multiple small parts under the spindle for many hours of uninterrupted production.Typical applications include battery control boxes, chassis components or instrument panels for electric vehicles. Other target markets are the semiconductor and mould making sectors.

Users processing tool steels will benefit from the introduction of a 10,000 rpm/26.2 kW/92 Nm high-torque spindle option in place of the standard 12,000 rpm offering. Another option is a 16,000 rpm face-and-taper contact spindle. Through-coolant at 30 bar is standard,while70 bar is available on request.
For further information www.wmtcnc.com

ETG presents agile Axile G8 machining centre

The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) is introducing the new G8 machining centre from Axile. Since entering into an agreement with Axile to become the exclusive UK and Ireland technology partner, ETG is already enjoying a significant level of enquiries for the range of five-axis VMCs, heavy-duty double-column machining centres and mill-turn machine tools.

With a maximum loading capacity of up to 1300kg on a swivelling rotary table, the agility of the G8 enables the production of various large components. Also in the G8 Series is the G8 MT. This machine option offers both milling and turning in one machine, increasing operational flexibility, reducing set-up times and offering the potential to machine a wider variety of parts in a single set-up.

Axile builds the flexibility of the G8 and G8 MT upon a high-quality cast base that offers a structural foundation which optimises vibration damping and limits thermal behaviour.From an agility perspective, both models have direct-driven servo motors, double symmetrical and synchronised axes, linear scales with 0.1μm resolution,and double roller type linear guideways – all features that minimise backlash, vibration and elasticity.

Regarding specification, both the G8 and G8 MT offer a table size of 800 mm diameter with X, Y and Z-axis travels of 670 x 820 x 600mm and a maximum feed rate of 60m/min. The swivelling A axis moves to ±120° with a 360° continuous C axis. As standard, the built-in spindle come with a 20,000rpm asynchronous motor supplied with tools from two carousels that offer 32/64 position tool-change capability. The machine can also feature larger magazines with up to 120 positions.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Subcontractor installs large twin-column machine

Having a working volume of 2200 x 1700 x 750 mm, the Hurco DCX22i twin-column, bridge-type VMC with 8 tonne table load capacity is now the largest item of prismatic machining equipment on the shop floor at Jones Nuttall Precision Engineering in Warrington. The machine features a 40-station tool magazine, 12,000 rpm/18 kW spindle and rapids of 32 m/min in the X and Y axes, and 24 m/min in Z.

Jones Nuttall’s new DCX22i brings to 12 the number of machining centres in use on the shop floor, all of them supplied by Hurco, there being eight VM30i models and other VMCs also in operation. Additionally, a third of the lathes on site are Hurcos, both of them bar-fed. The TM10 has a 10-inch chuck while the 8-inch chuck TMM8 includes live tooling and a C axis.

Metals processed include Inconel, titanium alloy, stainless steel, steel, brass, aluminium, copper and even silver. Engineering thermoplastics such as nylon, acetal and PEEK are also common, as well as composites. Batch sizes range from one-offs to runs in excess of 1000.

Founded in 1971, Jones Nuttall has been a Hurco user since 2000, at which time the subcontractor decided to progress from manual tool-change mills to machining centres. The company opted for Hurco equipment due to the high build quality and spindle power of both the machining centres and lathes.

Geoff Brown, a machine operator at Jones Nuttall, says: “Hurco machines are very easy to program, set-up and use. The twin-screencontrol on the DCX really helps as I can program and edit on one screen, while the other screen displays the component and toolpath. The programming of all our Hurco machines is the same, so often one operator can run two or three machines.”
For further information www.hurco.com/gb