FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Efficient five-axis HMC from Makino

A new addition to the Makino family of five-axis machining centres is announced by UK and Ireland agent, NCMT. With a working volume of 730 x 750 x 700 mm, the a500Z horizontal spindle model features a rigid structure and low inertia, which is said to endow it with production efficiency similar to that of a four-axis machine.

A one-piece base casting, slant-bed design and three-point support offer high stiffness and stability, while the swivelling table has minimal overhang. High positioning accuracy is aided by the short distance between the A-axis pivot point and the workpiece. Also assisting precision is a thermally symmetrical structure that is combined with heat removal from the 303 Nm HSK-A63 Makino spindle and core-cooled ballscrews, while direct-drive motors on the rotary axes are fitted with cooling jackets.
The ability to use inertia-active control during simultaneous five-axis metal cutting allows users to accelerate and decelerate workpieces measuring up to 630 mm diameter by 500 mm high, and weighing up to 400 kg. Additionally, the standard automatic tool changer accommodates up to 60 cutters and achieves a chip-to-chip time of 2.4 seconds.
With regard to chip and coolant control, contrary to conventional five-axis trunnion table set-ups, the a500Z has a wide trough located beneath the table. Coolant flow from a washing system that encompasses the pallet loading area prevents chips accumulating by ensuring they fall directly into the trough.
Automation is available for both pallet and parts handling, including the MMC2 and VIP, which employ six-axis robots. Standard automation systems available on the market can similarly be integrated with the machine.
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

Keeping vintage wheels turning

In order to meet demand for quick turnaround on low volume parts, and with the company’s original mill coming to the end of its life and now obsolete, Alstonefield-based Tractor Spare Parts Ltd placed an order for a two-axis XYZ SMX 2000 turret mill, specifying the optional DXF converter.

“For many of the parts we make I have to create new CAD files as drawings either never existed or the originals are long gone,” says co-owner Andrew Griffin. “The ability to then export the DXF file straight to the ProtoTrak control is a sizable advantage. The support available from XYZ is also a big plus. When the machine first arrived I struggled to get to grips with the DXF side of things, so XYZ sent an applications engineer to us here in the middle of the Peak District who spent time explaining the system. Everything fell into place and now it is second nature.”
Co-owner Joanna Griffin adds: “The tractor spares side of the business is all mail order via our website, but due to the nature of the parts we are producing and the age of the vehicles they are being fitted to, there may have been modifications along the way. Therefore, we tend to contact customers directly and discuss what they actually want. These conversations ensure that they get exactly the part they need and Andrew can tailor the manufacture of that component easily with the XYZ SMX mill. We are then confident to ship it halfway around the world in the knowledge that it will fit.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Sermati selects Correa Fox

Sermati, Air Jordan 6 Donna a Spain-based tier 1 and 2 supplier to the aerospace, TUBULAR SHADOW KNIT

defence and energy sectors, has chosen to install Fox gantry-type vertical milling machines from Correa Group after a series of demanding tests against competitor machines. PUMA evoTOUCH homme After selecting manufacturers that offered large-sized machining centres which combine power, torque, Brad Wing speed, axis dynamics and control, it was decided to submit these machines to a titanium machining test. adidas superstar 2 mujer The condition of the test was to perform a 25 mm chatter-free cut using an end mill with the ram fully extended. Nike Air Max 1 Dames The Fox machining centre managed to reach 60 mm. It must be said that the three-axis UAD machining head of the Fox machining centre develops 52 kW of power with a torque of 1300 Nm and 6000 rpm. This is complemented with a five-axis UGV milling head rotating at 12,000 rpm generating 35 kW with 190 Nm. nike air max 1 turquoise Available for automatic loading straight from the adjacent magazine, Air Jordan 7 Retro the two heads fulfil this complementary role to deliver both roughing with major chip formation on the most difficult materials, and finishing of complex shapes with maximum precision, says Correa. “As soon as we ordered the Fox machining centres, we went to see our customers with the brochure of the machine” explains Mikael Helloco, Mark Ingram Jersey purchasing manager at Sermati.

Machining centre supports heavy-duty cutting

Developed especially to meet higher performance needs involving heavy-duty cutting applications on hard metal, cast iron and super alloy workpieces, is the OKK MCH5000R horizontal machining centre from 2D CNC Machinery. The machine has a maximum workpiece capacity within a cylinder of 850 mm diameter by 1000 mm high, with axis travels of 800 mm in the X axis, 700 mm in Y and 880 mm in Z.

OKK’s MCH5000R houses a 22 kW, 50-taper spindle with three-step gear drive and 1250 Nm of torque to enable high-power metal removal. Capable of speeds from 20 to 6,000 rpm, the spindle is supported by a high-rigidity column with Z-axis guideway.
With a main body weighing in at 20 tonne, the machine comprises a heavy construction that combines with the column to reduce any deformation caused by varying loads on the table. Both the X and Z axes feature a hybrid face to the guideway with ‘aerostatic’ bearing pads that reduce load weight and friction resistance. Meanwhile, the Y axis combines a twin drive to the spindle head, eliminating any need for a counterbalance and enhancing axis response. Rapid traverse rates are 30 m/min.
The X, Y and Z axes are positioned via temperature controlled core-chilled ballscrews with double anchoring to suppress the onset of elongation. As a result, fine-feed routines and circular machining accuracy is maximised, says 2D CNC. A conventional worm-gear drive to the table of the MCH5000R is replaced by a highly rigid speed-reduction unit having minimal backlash and high resistance to overload conditions.
For further information www.2dcnc.co.uk

Laser texturing of 3D mould surfaces

A five-axis CNC machine has been introduced by DMG Mori UK for the laser ablation of geometrically defined textures into the surface of mould tools. According to the company, the machining process is more environmentally friendly than conventional etching and offers greater freedom of design and a high level of repeatability. The new Lasertec 75 Shape is also capable of creating filigree cavities without the need to manufacture electrodes.

A footprint of just 8 sq m is matched with an ergonomic design and a door opening of 1310 mm to ensure convenient access to the machining area. Workpieces of diameter up to 840 mm and height to 520 mm can be accommodated. Parts can weigh up to 600 kg, or 1000 kg with the optional tandem drive of the tilting mechanism supporting the rotary table.
Central to machine operation are a 100 W pulsed fibre laser and 3D processing optics with F-theta scanning lens. The laser is responsible for layer-by-layer removal of material and, in combination with the NC swivelling rotary table, offers contour-parallel laser shaping for fast, trouble-free laser texturing, even in the 3D freeform areas of a mould, says DMG Mori.
Rapid traverse speeds of 40 m/min help facilitate fast cycle times, while ballscrews in the linear axes and cooling measures promote a high degree of accuracy. Travels are 750 x 650 x 560 mm in the X, Y and Z axes.
Control is by a Siemens 840D SolutionLine, which can combine with DMG Mori’s application-specific LaserSoft software and proprietary CELOS graphical user interface.
For further information www.dmgmori.com