Now in its 17th year of business, Hi-Spec Precision Engineering has evolved from a small start-up business to an established subcontract manufacturer that has fully embraced the latest CNC technology and, more recently, automation technology to drive growth and productivity. A case in point is a new 10-pallet Kitamura Mycenter HX250iG horizontal machining centre from Dugard.

As well as its subcontract business, the company is also renowned in the music industry, manufacturing custom precision-crafted electric guitars. Indeed, the company claims to be the only UK manufacturer and sales outlet for precision guitar components such as bridges, control plates, pick-up screws, neck ferrules, neck screws, pick-up surrounds and more. These components are now available for machining on the Kitamura Mycenter.

Managing director Darren Grainger says: “Our milling work has increased a lot over the past year and cycle times are getting longer with more complex components. This means that some jobs can occupy a machine for up to two weeks at a time, so we needed to look at some way of getting higher production rates and more unmanned hours. Horizontal machining centres are known as production machines and seemed like the obvious choice. The 10-pallet pool is the icing on the cake.”

He adds: “We have one order for 300 parts that is about to arrive and each part requires two operations of more than 30 minutes each. This order will tie up one of our existing machines for four weeks doing the first operation and another four weeks completing the second operation. On the Kitamura machine, we will be able to reduce this cycle time from eight weeks to less than two.”

For further information
www.dugard.com

To meet the criteria of ever-expanding customer demands, Chiron has launched its latest machining centre, the five-axis DZ22W. Based upon the proven platform of the existing 16 series, the Chiron DZ22W is available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG).

Thanks to its moving gantry design, a rigid machine bed and active component cooling, the DZ22W five-axis machining centre is said to achieve a high level of precision, even for large components. Fast cycle times are supported by high axis acceleration, short changeover times and rapid traverse speeds. The integrated workpiece changing device, which enables blanks and finished parts to be loaded and unloaded during machine operation, further increases productivity.

From a specification standpoint, the DZ22W five-axis has a twin-spindle configuration that can simultaneously work at speed in the 620 x 650 x 600 mm work envelope.

Customers are able to load a maximum component size of 599 mm diameter with a maximum height of 340 mm and a workpiece load of up to 600 kg. Further capabilities include a 61 kW spindle motor that can reach speeds of up to 20,000 rpm. Axis acceleration rates are 10, 10 and 17 m/s2 across the X, Y and Z axes, with a rapid feed rate of 75 m/min. Chip-to-chip time is 3.1 seconds.

The two spindles are available with a choice of HSK-A63, HSK-A100 or HSK-T63 connection, with each spindle having an individual tool carousel of 77 tools.
As with all Chiron models, the DZ22W five-axis machining centre is available in different configurations with customers having the facility to choose between a ball-screw drive and a linear drive.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

With fast material removal capabilities and high-rigidity characteristics, GF Machining Solutions says that its Mikron MILL P 500U simultaneous five-axis machining centres deliver accuracy and cutting performance when machining high-precision, complex components made from difficult-to-machine materials. Notably, the thermal stability characteristics of the machines ensures reliable precision over long runs, aided by the integration and availability of smart technology modules.

As well as featuring 1.7 g acceleration/deceleration rates and 45 m/min rapids, the machines are equipped with 36 kW Step-Tec spindles (20,000 rpm) and rotary tilting tables that can accommodate workpieces up to 707 mm in diameter and up to 600 kg in weight. The rotary tilting table (+91/-121° and n x 360°) is available with several options, including T-slot and pallet tables accommodating a payload of 200, 400 or 600 kg.

Incremental, direct-angle measuring systems on the tilting and rotating axes guarantee high positional and repeatable accuracies. Both axes are driven via water-cooled torque motors: one for T-slot tables, and two for pallet tables on the A axis and one on the C axis. For heavy-duty machining, it is possible to clamp the rotary and tilting axes and, for improved machining stability, the titling axis features clamping on both side supports.

As well as the 20,000 rpm Step-Tec HPC190 spindle (with HSK-A63 interface), customers can select Step-Tec’s 36,000 rpm HVC150 motor spindle with HSK-E50 interface. This spindle solution is suitable for mould makers using small cutting tools in conjunction with the aforementioned 1.7 g acceleration to achieve best-in-class surface finishes.

For further information
www.gfms.com

To support continued growth ambitions, work-holding specialist Micron Workholding has recently installed a new three-axis machining centre from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG). The Vulcan VMC610L machining centre was the machine of choice due to its spacious work envelope in a compact floor area.

Jon Mannion, regional sales manager at ETG, says: “When I first spoke to Micron, one of their key criteria was a small footprint. To demonstrate the work envelope of the machine at our facility, we loaded it with a really large block of material. We cut around the outside of the part to show the working envelope and then machined a very deep pocket in the middle.”

What impressed at the demonstration was not just the large working area for such a small footprint machine, but its performance, cutting capability and surface finish. Alluding to the size of the Vulcan VMC610L, Mannion says: “The machine has an X axis of 610 mm, but the table is 650 mm, so it suited the needs of Micron. We also offer 850 and 1000 mm models.”

Acknowledged to be an entry-level machining centre, the standard Vulcan VMC610L has a 10,000 rpm spindle (options up to 30,000 rpm), 20 bar through-spindle coolant, 24-station tool changer and swarf management. The BT40 machine also offers 36 m/min rapids, while all axes use an extra-wide 45 mm roller-type linear guideway, which further contributes to the VMC’s ability to accommodate heavy loads with fast acceleration rates and low friction.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Matsuura Machinery has released its MAM72-52V, a high-speed, large-capacity five-axis vertical machining centre. Designed from the ground up and based on more than 30 years of multi-pallet automation expertise, Matsuura describes the MAM72-52V as a “factory in one machine” that enables variable-part/variable-volume production and extended unmanned operation.

The machine is equipped as standard with 130 tools on a 330 tool magazine base, a proven tower pallet system (PC15) for extended lights-out manufacturing, and a chip-removal system. Each pallet can accommodate a load capacity of 300 kg.

It was in 1995 that Matsuura first introduced its MAM72 series of five-axis machine tools, ushering in a new era of unmanned palletised and fully automated CNC machining. Synonymous with the introduction of lights-out machining, this production platform became instantly recognisable by its integrated tower pallet pool. The denomination ‘MAM’ signifies Matsuura Advanced Manufacturing.

Roger Howkins, managing director at Matsuura Machinery Ltd, says: “Investing in a Matsuura MAM72 series machine is not all about the mass production of a single part, or set of parts, although some end users utilise their MAM72 machines for that purpose. Instead, we often find customers treating their MAM72 as a ‘vending machine’, an approach that sees them “making what they need, when they need it and selling what they produce”. The machine facilitates minimal set ups following the inception of a new component with its fixtures, as well as highly optimised spindle utilisation in comparison with a manned single-table machine that requires long periods of downtime between set-ups. In addition, MAM72 machines provide proven capacity for customers to run profitably unmanned at night and weekends, while reducing operator dependency and associated labour costs.”

For further information
www.matsuura.co.uk