FEATURE ON CNC MILLS & MACHINING CENTRES

Heavy-duty VMC range unveiled

Continued development at XYZ Machine Tools sees the arrival of its seven machine HD (Heavy-Duty) range of vertical machining centres. These machines supersede the previous series of box-slideway models in the XYZ range and complement the latest LR (Linear-Rail) machines that have been added to its catalogue.

XYZ says that HD machines will allow maximum metal removal rates thanks to their Meehanite cast beds and columns, along with induction-hardened, ground and Turcite-coated box slideways. X-axis travels extend from 660 to 3000 mm.
The range starts with the XYZ 660 HD, which features increased X- and Y-axis travels of 660 and 450 mm, yet retains a compact footprint. The other machines in the series are the XYZ 800 HD, 1100 HD and 1510 HD, with three ‘super-heavyweight’ machines, the XYZ 2010, 2510 and 3010 HD, completing the range.
XYZ reveals that the four smaller HD machines all feature increased axis travels, as well as increased spindle power where it was deemed necessary. For example, the XYZ 660 now has a 25 kW spindle, an increase of 123% over its predecessor. Spindle speed is also improved by 25% to 10,000 rpm, with other machines in the range gaining around 66% spindle power.
The Siemens 828D ShopMill control featuring 15” touch screen is fitted as standard, with the control pendant-mounted on several machines in the range for further ease of use. Customers also have a number of options available, such as 4th- and 5th-axis attachments, swarf conveyors and on-machine tool and workpiece probing.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

£3.5m machining facility takes next step

A new £3.5m state-of the-art machining facility in Tewkesbury has taken the next step in its development after installing the latest CNC technology.

The Bowmill Group, which provides precision engineering, grinding and surface processing services to the aerospace sector, has installed a Chiron FZ12 FX Magnum Vario five-axis vertical machining centre to help it supply critical landing gear components to Safran Landing Systems for the Airbus A320/A321.
Supplied by the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), the turnkey package comes with 64 HSK tool stations, the latest measuring cycle probe system from Renishaw and a Fanuc six-axis robot with automated pallet system to support lights-out manufacturing. The machine has now been installed and is producing 1500 units per month, with a 9% improvement in accuracy across all of the 10 prismatic parts that have so far been proven out.
Nick Epps, managing director of Bowmill, says: “More than £2.5m has been spent with ETG on supplying a range of Quaser, Nakamura and Chiron technologies, and this has not only given us significant additional capacity for existing and future work, but allowed us to meet the aerospace sector’s demand for quality, delivery, support and commercial objectives.
“The Chiron FZ12 and Fanuc robot is our latest purchase and is already surpassing expectations in terms of productivity and quality,” he adds. “The change-over sequence and single-point fixturing and work-holding from Hyfore, which has significantly enhanced the tooling we have at our main site in Poole, has contributed to reducing cycle times. We are now exploring the option of machining additional items on this machine.”
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Haas aids micron-level machining

March-based Microns Precision Engineering provides a subcontract engineering solution to customers across the UK and Europe.

Founders James Campbell and Garry Mills met while working as machinists at another firm, but in 2008, with a recession looming, they began to visualise starting a company of their own. “We wanted more control,” states Campbell. “We didn’t start with much, but because of the economic downturn things were cheaper. We bought a second-hand Haas mill and started to build up a customer base.”
Microns Precision soon outgrew its original premises, and after expanding into two larger units, began looking to see how it could fill its newly acquired space.
Today, nearly a decade later, Microns has installed 10 Haas machines, the latest of which is a VF-2SS Super Speed mill. With customers in industries ranging from agricultural to motorsport, scientific to gas and oil, the VF-2SS needs to be adaptive. “If something can be machined; we have a customer who wants one,” explains Campbell. “Right now we’re making DTS nano-positioning equipment which is mounted to lasers and microscopes, so the parts have to be dead flat. The accuracy on the VF-2SS is incredible, and it’s undoubtedly the fastest machine we have; the tool changer is so speedy that our jobs are noticeably quicker, which makes the whole process more efficient.
“This is our second Haas with four-axis capability and we’ve found that gives us a flexibility we hadn’t previously seen,” he continues. “As the controls are the same on all of the machines, we can switch from one to another in no time.”
For further information www.haas.co.uk

Mikron machine acquired by Renault F1

Oxfordshire-based Renault Sport Formula One Team has taken delivery of a Mikron HPM 800U five-axis machining centre from GF Machining Solutions.

Since installation, the HPM 800U has been put to work machining a diverse range of parts, including a number of gearbox inserts made from titanium. Apart from some wire EDM profiling operations, which take up to 12 hours to complete, the inserts are five-axis machined entirely on the HPM 800U. Material removal rates are high (over 85% of the titanium is removed during roughing and finishing operations), and the inserts are machined to a high accuracy and require an excellent surface finish.
“Despite such demands, our HPM 800U machines have not been found wanting and are among the most accurate, dynamic and reliable machining centres we have in our facility,” says machine shop manager Raphael Willie.
“A few years ago we made a strategic decision to increase our five-axis milling capabilities and selected GF Machining Solutions as the technical partner to help us achieve our objectives,” he adds. “The partnership means that we are able to acquire the latest Mikron five-axis machines at highly competitive rates, and have direct access to GF Machining Solutions’ technical and applications expertise.
“As a consequence we are able to fully embrace the concept of one-hit and simultaneous five-axis machining, and to experience productivity gains, improved machine tool utilisation, increased component accuracies, and reduced set-up and part cycle times.”
For further information www.gfms.com/uk

Five-axis portal mill for prototypes

A portal, five-axis milling machine has been introduced by German machine-tool manufacturer Zimmermann at the lower end of its price range. Available in the UK and Ireland through Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools, the compact FZU is intended primarily for prototype, tool and mould making, as well as machining composite components such as airframes.

Of thermo-symmetrical and stable design, the machine is suitable for manufacturing workpieces from aluminium, plastics and model board. Unlike other machines in the Zimmermann range, the FZU is shipped in one piece so does not need to be assembled at the customer’s premises.
The working volume is available from a choice of X-axis travels of 2000, 4000 or 6000 mm, a 3000 mm Y axis, and either 1250 or 1500 mm movement in Z. Acceleration is 3 m/s2 to the maximum 60 m/min feed rate. Table loads of up to 10 tonnes can be accommodated.
The fourth and fifth CNC axes are provided by the newly developed VH10 spindle head, now the smallest in the manufacturer’s range. Of slender design, it provides minimal interference contours and high clamping force for stable milling.
A HSK-A63 spindle is standard, delivering 34 kW of power and 39 Nm of torque continuously, and offering a maximum speed of 24,000 rpm. The A axis swivels through 220°, while C-axis rotation is 300 or 360° for the smaller and larger Z-axis travels respectively. Resolution in both rotary axes is 0.0001°.
Control is provided by either a Heidenhain TNC 640 or Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl. Other options include spindle probing, tool measuring, and capacity for 40 or 60 tools in the magazine instead of the standard 20 tools.
For further information www.geokingsbury.com