FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

XYZ Machine Tools helps to keep vans safe

Exeter-based Van Guard Accessories has invested in a new XYZ 750 TMC vertical machining centre with ProtoTRAK RMX control and 20-station carousel tool changer. The machine enabled this progressive manufacturing business to bring in-house the manufacture of prismatic parts for its ULTI Lock hook-lock, which is the first ‘Sold Secure’Gold level hook-lock for vans.

The first part on the new machine was the lock’s face plate. Fixturing was designed so that 22 face plates could fit on onepallet. Previously, countersinking of the face plates to three different depths took place manually, requiring 15 minutes per part. To subcontract this operation cost £1.10 per component, so in-house machining was easy to justify with a cycle time of 30 seconds per plate and a payback on the machine of less than three years.

Director of operationsLeigh Andrewssays: “The ULTI Lock has been a raging success; we’re making between 4000 and 6000 per month. Typically, each van will have two or three hook-locks, one on the rear door and two on the side door. We’re preparing more fixtures so that we can introduce the machining of other parts in-house. Currently we’re only using 50% of the XYZ 750 TMC’s capacity, so we have plenty of machining time available for different parts. Furthermore, with the machine’s swarf conveyor, we’re able to recover more money from recycling the swarf while at the same time maintaining a clean machine and clean coolant.”

Van Guard chose the XYZ 750 TMC as Leigh Andrews had experience of the machines at a previous company.

“Although we’re new to CNC machining, the graphics and ease of use of ProtoTRAK made the crossover from manual to CNC machining easy,” he concludes.

For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Automated mill-turn cell halves cutting cycles




A British designer and manufacturer of bedpan macerators for healthcare institutions and sewage treatment systems for municipal water companies, Haigh Engineering, has upgraded the capacity on its shop floor in Ross-on-Wye with the installation of a five-axis Hermle C 42 UMT prismatic machining cell featuring turning capability.

Included are a multi-level tool magazine for holding 50 tools in addition to the standard 42 tools, making a total of 92, and a six-pallet storage system served by a three-axis HS Flex Heavy robot for automatically transferring pallets with a maximum capacity of 1200kg into the working area and returning them after component machining. Kingsbury, Hermle’s sole UK agent, delivered the cell in September 2022.

Haigh Engineering’s production manager Neil Phillips says: “As well as allowing for future capacity increase and improved reliability, the Hermle C 42 enabled us to take two older, less efficient machining centres off-line.”Overall, current metal cutting time is today about half of that provided by the older mills (with the equivalent machining cycles).

A majority of throughput at Haigh involves the machining of castings, mainly iron but also stainless steel and aluminium, ranging in size from 400 mm high by 600 mm square, down to 150 mm diameter by 150 mm long. Some weigh as much as 250 kg. While Haigh currently attends the machine full time, as the setters optimise usage, the intention is to set up multiple parts on the six pallets and run the system lights-out. Some unattended machining already takes place at the end of each day shift by loading a raw casting that requires 60 minutes or more of metal cutting time, allowing production to continue past normal working hours.
For further information www.kingsburyuk.com

Mazak releases new CNC machining centres




Now available from Mazak is the company’s new HCN-4000 NEO and HCN-5000 NEO horizontal machining centres and its VariAxis i-700 NEO five-axis vertical machining centre. The new NEO models achieve enhanced precision, boasting three times better than ISO positioning accuracy. Additionally, continuous machining accuracy sees stabilisation thanks to the new ‘Ai Thermal Shield’ function, which uses advanced algorithms to determine compensation according to fluctuating temperature. The result?Improved concentricity for machining operations such as end-to-end boring.

As part of Mazak’s Go Green environmental initiative to achieve a 50% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2030, the new NEO series represents the most environmentally friendly to date. Mazak has committed to making all machines manufactured in 2030 at least four times more efficient than machines manufactured in 2010. To create a more sustainable future and reduce consumption costs for manufacturers, the latest NEO series incorporates a raft of technology enhancements to deliver a 30% reduction in energy consumption for the VariAxis i-700 NEO and 24% for the HCN-4000/5000 NEO.

Environmental performance sees further gains via the Energy Saver Dashboard, with a graphic display of power and CO2 consumption for users to identify trends via a visual indicator.In addition, a Mazak Smooth Coolant system automatically optimises coolant volume discharge to drive additional energy savings. The Smooth Coolant system also incorporates a sludge removal performance system that keeps the coolant sump clean and prolongs the service life of cutting fluids.

If required, Mazak can pair the machines with an integrated high-rise PalleTech system featuring the latest PMC NEO software. With a new graphical user interface offering tutorial-style data entry and interactive set-up guidance, PMC NEO includes advanced system monitoring, resource management and ERP integration capability.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Compact five-axis multi-tasking machine




All-round speed of operation is the essence of the new Speedio M300Xd1 30-taper, five-axis mill-turn centre from Brother, which is represented in the UK and Ireland by Whitehouse Machine Tools.The machine is proficient at milling and drilling within a 300 x 440 x 380 mm working envelope and is equally well suited to turning components on the C-axis torque table, which sits on a -30/+120° swivelling A-axis trunnion. Machine shops can produce components up to 450 mm in diameter and weighing up to 75 kg.

Single set-up multi-tasking avoids additional set-ups, promotes high accuracy machining and minimises component handling. All machining takes place in a compact footprint of fractionally over 4 sq m.

Rivalling 40-taper prismatic machining equipment in terms of rigidity and high metal removal rate, the M300Xd1 is more agile and significantly more productive, reports Whitehouse Machine Tools. Furthermore, it typically draws 80% less power, giving it industry-leading environmental performance and low running costs.

The 380 mm Z-axis travel is nearly 25% longer than that of sister Speedio model M300X3, providing the new machine with a larger volume for fixturing components and allowing the application of longer tools up to 250 mm. New also is the ability to specify a 28-tool magazine, rather than one with 22 positions.

Research carried out by Brother indicates that electric and hybrid vehicles will account for more than half of global sales by 2030. With its prismatic machining and turning capability, the M300Xd1 is suitable for the production of complex traction motor cases and other components used in such vehicles. Further target markets include the conventional automotive sector, as well as the valve, roller bearing and medical industries.
For further information www.wmtcnc.com

MACH Machine Tools goes top of the class




MACH Machine Tools, part of the Vigilance Group and a supplier of CNC and manual machine tools and machine shop equipment to UK and Irish component manufacturers and UK educational institutions and training providers, has recently supplied NETA Trainingin Stockton-on-Tees with three new CNC machine tools.The machines, all ordered at the same time, are equipped with the DynaPath control and comprise two MACH MDT-1 turret-type milling machines and a MACH MDL 1600 lathe.

Says Sean Johnston, NETA’s director:“Our MACH machine tools have helped elevate our status as an engineering training specialist with local and regional employers, schools and young people and the wider community. They have enabled us to further differentiate our offering in what is a competitive local training environment.”

NETA took the decision to invest in MACH machine tools for a number of reasons. Although initially considering a couple of machine tool manufacturers, a meeting between NETA representatives and MACH Machine Tools at the MACH 2022 exhibition meant a machine tool investment package comprising two mills and a lathe began to take shape.

“We liked the approach of MACH Machine Tools,”recalls Johnston. “In addition, we appreciated the build quality of the machines and, once the power and flexibility of the DynaPath control system was explained to us in more detail, we were convinced it was the right way to go.We were also particularly impressed with the control system’s 24/7 remote diagnostic capabilities. These factors, combined with the aftersales service and support, the competitive price, themachine’s availability, and the company’s desire to create a meaningful partnership, helped seal the deal.”
For further information www.machmt.co.uk