Download as PDF (899 KB) - Makino Europe GmbH

AUTUMN FAIRS
4
Precisely! 02|2012
Better payback
from benchmark
technology
New technologies deliver enhanced performance,
improved efficiency and higher productivity
Makino Europe’s Customer Magazine

F8: the vertical machining centre
with front doors open
Autumn trade fairs are traditionally the time when technology
and service providers in the machine tool industry serve up
their latest wares. This year, Makino launches a number of new
machines that offer users an outstanding return on investment
through higher productivity.
F8/F9: easy access to the spindle and the part
F8/F9: a machine of extremes
A new vertical machining centre
(VMCs) from Makino, the F8/F9, is big
and strong, yet accurate at the same
time. The size and strength of the
F8/F9 is illustrated by a few key
characteristics: 17,000 kg in weight,
a 2,500 kg payload, an 800 mm Y-axis
stroke, roller guides, permanent sup-
port and guidance of all axes (no floating
axis), a short force loop (only
600 mm from spindle to Z-axis supports
and guides), and a 10,000 rpm 426 Nm
spindle. All this leads to low vibration
levels in performing powerful cutting
operations and stability in machining
difficult-to-cut materials. The accuracy
of the machining performance is based
on several related factors: the thermo-
symmetric design, core-cooled ball
screws and an optional core-cooled
20,000 rpm spindle, resulting in thermal
stability, which ensures sustained
accuracy during long hours of machining
and minimizes spindle growth in a
Z-axis direction.
Balanced benefits
This excellent balance of strength, size
and accuracy brings key benefits for
the user. The F8/F9 performs demanding
roughing and boring operations at
high MRRs while still reducing cutter
consumption and the problems caused
by chip clogging. The fact that jobs
can be completely or nearly finished
on an F8/F9 is a formula for enhanced
productivity. After all, the good sur-
face quality of finished pieces, minimal
blending error between different
tools, high pitch accuracy and certain
±5 µm accuracy in parting lines reduce
or eliminate the need for further manual
operations. Moreover, he ergo-
nomic design of the F8/F9 reduces non-
cutting times and facilitates loading
and unloading of large parts, inspection
of parts and tools, and access for
manual operations. Last but not least,
the combination of strength, size and
accuracy means the F8/F9 is a highly
flexible VMC suitable for a wide variety
of applications, such as plastic
injection moulding, cold and hot forging,
mould base machining and parts
machining, as well as materials, e.g.
steel, stainless steel and titanium.
5
www.makino.eu

U3: easy guide maintenance
U3: cost-effective wire EDM
The latest addition to Makino‘s wire
EDM portfolio, the U3, boasts a unique
0.4µm/3-pass capability that speeds
up punch and die cutting: under
standard machining conditions the
Makino U3 delivers a surface finish of
Ra 0.4 µm with just three passes. That
naturally reduces machining time and
also lowers the cost of consumables
as less wire is required.
The U3 comes with numerous features
to speed up wire EDM operations. The
Pico Precision Guides automatically
thread initial start holes as small as
0.4 mm in diameter with minimal risk
of failure while a high-pressure twinjet
system and improved pecking feed
system deliver even more accurate,
6
Precisely! 02|2012
high-speed wire threading. By melting
the wire to form a burrless pointed tip,
the thermal cutter further improves the
reliability of wire threading. What is
more, the U3’s new guide maintenance
system eliminates the need for lengthy
realignment procedures if guides have
to be reinstalled. A machine of this qual-
ity – with the same fixed-table design
concept as Makino‘s well-known UP
Series – offers an excellent return on
investment for shops specialising in
precision metal tooling or die stamping.
Upgraded a61nx-5E
Designed to boost productivity by
reducing work-setting operations, the
new a61nx-5E horizontal machining
centre (HMC) is particularly suited to
machining aircraft parts, e.g. complex
impeller blades, and high-performance
a61nx-5E: pallet change sequence
Makino Europe’s Customer Magazine
aluminium cutting. Makino has added
a 4th and a 5th direct drive axis to the
successful a61nx and introduced a new
automated pallet changer to make
horizontal work settings possible in a
rotary table 5-axis HMC. The standard
specs version is designed for high-accuracy
cutting, the aluminium specs
option for high-performance aluminium
cutting with a high-power 24,000 rpm,
80 kW spindle achieving an MRR of up
to 5,000 cm 3 /min. Another spindle option
– 14,000 rpm, 240 Nm – is extreme-
ly suitable for machining titanium, and
in particular aerospace parts.
Besides high speed and accuracy, the
machine‘s other outstanding nding features
are its ergonomic design, , reassuring
reliability and power-saving ving Eco mode.
The new machine concept ept not only
enables it to be operated d more easily
and quickly but also allows ows for larger
workpieces and longer-length length tools.
At the same time, the latest test Pro.5 High
Performance Control unit it comes with
an improved touchscreen n and icons
for faster input, and a tool ol data
screen for simple tool management.
anagement.
The machine‘s reliability is based,
among other things, on the he
spindle head‘s washing coolant
and flat surface to prevent nt chip
contamination during auto- uto-
matic tool changing, and a choice
of two disposal devices for optimum
chip evacuation. Last but t far from
least, the machine‘s standard ndard Eco Eco
mode reduces power consumption
onsumption
by up to 30%.

Makino‘s new
small-sized HMC
A strikingly small HMC
Visitors to the Makino booth will be
surprised at how small this HMC is.
Most would expect a machine of this
size to be a VMC. But now Makino
has broken the mould by developing
an HMC of unparalleled compactness
(WxDxH: 1,110 x 2,000 x 2,150
mm; footprint 2.2 m2 ). Since this new
machine benefits from the superior
chip evacuation of HMCs, it is ideal
for parts‘ production, especially as it
offers four table options to suit a wide
range of components. components. High machine
dynamics and excellent accuracy are
A20:
20-metre X-axis travel
the machine‘s strengths. The cutting
performance has been tested in alu-
minium at 335 cc/min. and in S55/C
steel at 40 cc/min. The repeatability
of the linear axis has been measured
at ±0.002 mm and the indexing repeat-
ability of the rotary axis at ±2 sec. In
other words, the machine‘s unmatched
compactness, machining accuracy,
cutting capability and competitive
price make it a very interesting proposition
for series production of automotive
or industrial components and
high-precision parts for the medical
and watch industries – particularly
as the machine‘s easy accessibility
makes various automation configurations
possible.
EDBV3 & A4-A20:
aerospace highlights
Though not on view at the autumn fairs,
one newcomer to the Makino portfo-
lio, the EDBV3, will particularly in-
terest jet engine manufacturers. Designed
as a more efficient solution for
drilling cooling holes and fan-shape
machining in blades and vanes, the
EDBV3 combines a number of new
technologies that reduce machining
time in such operations – by drilling
cooling holes seven times faster than
existing EDM drilling technology –
and make continuous single setup
machining possible. The result is an
innovative, efficiency-enhancing
sinker EDM machine that will enable
manufacturers to meet the growing
demand for jet engines.
What is more, Makino‘s new generation
of large-size HMCs, the A4-A20,
is ideally suited for producing highquality
aluminium structural parts
for the aerospace industry. The key
features are enhanced machine
dynamics with axes acceleration of
0.8 g, a powerful spindle (120 kW) and
a modular design with X-axis travel
ranging from 4 to 20 metres.
For further information on all these
technologies please consult your local
Makino representative, visit the Makino
booth at one of the autumn fairs,
or contact us at precisely@makino.eu
7
www.makino.eu