At an exclusive preview event for the press held earlier this month at the company’s headquarters in Tiverton, XYZ Machine Tools demonstrated full simultaneous machining on its new UMC-5X five-axis machining centre.
“We took our time in sourcing the UMC-5X in order to be confident that we had the right solution to five-axis machining that could meet the needs of a wide variety of customers, from those just starting out in the five-axis arena, to those already well-versed in this technology,” says managing director Nigel Atherton. “The machine is a perfect fit with our existing range in that it combines value for money with high specifications, which we know will make it attractive to XYZ customers.”
The gantry-style machine with trunnion table offers Siemens 840D slShopMill control (or HeidenhainiTNC 640 HSCI option) and Heidenhain LC183 linear scales on the X, Y and Z axes. Furthermore, direct drives for the ballscrews deliver circularity of 6-7 µm.
Among the notable design features of the 600 x 600 x 500 mm (XYZ axis travels) UMC-5X is the availability of 500 mm of Y-axis travel forward of the table surface when the table is tilted 90° towards the rear (component facing forward). This is said to be greater than many competitor machines, including those quoting the same axis travels as the UMC-5X, thus allowing larger workpieces to be machined.
Full 360° C-axis rotation of the Italian-built LCM table is achieved via a direct-drive high-torque motor, giving 90 rpm, while ±120° is available in the tilting A-axis. Traori/Kinematic functions support five-axis simultaneous machining for improved accuracy.
Loads of up to 600 kg can be supported on the 600 mm diameter table, while maximum feed rates are 36 m/min in the three linear axes. A 40-taper, 12,000 rpm, 30 kW, 239 Nm in-line Siemens spindle is offered as standard (15,000 option). Alternatively, a Kessler HSK-A63 18,000 rpm (24,000 option), 25 kW, 40 Nm motorised spindle can be fitted. Through-spindle coolant at 20 bar (70 bar option)
is supplied with both spindles.
Among a number of ‘smart machining’ functions offered as standard are tool-tip positioning control, axial accuracy control and spindle vibration supervision.
Dubbed by XYZ as ‘The Challenger’, the list price for a standard UMC-5X is £153,000 + VAT. A selection of machines to various specifications will be held in stock, although machines can be ordered to exact requirements with delivery inside four months.
“In Europe, 25% of VMCs are five-axis models,” says Mike Corbett, applications manager at XYZ. “However, although the UK lags behind countries such as Germany by volume, numbers here are rising and we want to be part of that growth.”
This ambition follows a record-breaking period at XYZ, where profit has increased in each of the previous six years. In fact, the company reports “scorching” March trading figures that could set it up for yet another “best ever year” once calculations are complete.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence recently hosted a special event to demonstrate its latest measurement solutions to businesses in the Midlands. The breakfast meeting, held at the company’s Telford head office, was attended by 70 delegates who were able to watch six product displays
and listen to a series of talks. The event also gave visitors an opportunity to showcase their companies and highlight areas for collaboration during a 60-second pitch session.
For further information
www.hexagonmi.com

Nick White, Mills CNC’s sales director, announced his retirement from the company at the end of last month. White joined Mills CNC, then located in Norwich, in December 1988 as the business manager responsible for sales growth in the southwest of England and Wales. This was a position he held for a number of years, during which time the company changed its name, relocated to Leamington Spa, and became the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland. He was appointed as the company’s UK and Ireland sales manager in 2008 and, following a management buyout in 2014, became Mills CNC’s sales director and a major shareholder in the business.
For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

Manufacturers could be missing out on up to £65m of unclaimed refunds and incorrect charges on their energy bills, according to business energy experts Inenco Group. Inenco has conducted analysis on business bills, identifying that one in five energy bills contain errors that frequently go unnoticed by organisations. The most common issue in the manufacturing sector is incorrect rates applied to bills, followed by meter read errors. Inenco’s team of data analysts process and validate over one million invoices each year on behalf of businesses.
For further information www.inenco.com/missingmillions

Expert CNC Ltd, a subcontract supplier of precision milling and turning services, has invested in a pre-owned Bridgeport Interact 4 CNC milling machine from Sorted Machine Sales. The move comes in response to ongoing customer demand for greater flexibility in the machining of 1-off components.
Established in 2008, Verwood, Dorset-based Expert CNC serves customers in sectors ranging from marine and aerospace, through to machine building and architecture. Diversity of this nature requires inherent flexibility in the machine shop.
“We never know what work will come through the door tomorrow, and with increasing requests for 1-off parts against short lead-times, we made the decision to source a CNC vertical mill that was simple and quick to program,” explains commercial director Gary Waldron. “We saw a Bridgeport Interact 4 with Heidenhain CNC on Sorted’s website and, after a viewing, deemed it ideal for our needs.”
Phil Bowers, director at Sorted Machine Sales, takes up the story: “The machine had only been used for light work in the aerospace industry, so was in really good condition. We gave it a comprehensive service, and it sailed through a Renishaw ballbar test. Each pre-owned machine is treated as if we were buying it ourselves. This level of service is what ensures we enjoy high repeat sales.”
Indeed, Expert CNC is now in the market for a second pre-owned machine.
“We have earmarked funds for another investment, which will either be a vertical machining centre with a fourth axis, or a turning machine,” says Waldron. “Whichever we decide, Sorted will be our first port of call.”
For further information www.sorted-uk.com
www.expert-cnc.co.uk