Precisely! - Makino Europe

AEROSPACELEADING-EDGEEXPERTISETitanium is difficult to machine. Its poor thermal conductivity(an eighth that of steel) means most of the heat is concentratedon the cutting edge. The high shearing angle formed ahead ofthe cutting edge generates a high bearing load on the tool face.Moreover, titanium’s strong alloying tendency and chemical reactivitywith cutting materials at higher temperatures leads to welding,smearing and rapid destruction of the cutting tool.Since titanium is springier than steel,it also causes chattering, drilling andtapping problems. Consequently, themachine requirements for titanium aretough: a rigid structure and gooddamping capability, a rigid, hightorquespindle, high-volume coolantdelivery and good cutting chipevacuation.MAKINO T4: beating thetitanium challengeMakino was quick to take up the challengeof delivering a commerciallyviable solution for machining titanium.One definition of commercial viabilityis a machine’s metal removal rate(MRR) and here the latest addition tothe Makino family, the MAKINO T4,delivers an impressive 500 cm 3 /min.If that sounds paltry by aluminiumstandards, one only has to look at thecustomary titanium MRR figures:around 100 cm 3 /min. The MAKINO T4clearly takes the machining of titaniumonto a much higher plane – forparts of up to 4,000 mm x 2,000 mmx 700 mm in size. The machine’s highlightsinclude an 18-gib system tomaintain high accuracy, Makino’sproven semi-floating load compensationslide system for outstandingdamping, an ultra-compact high-power,high-torque HSK-A125 spindle, ahighly rigid and compact A-axis spindlehead, a twin gear-driven A-axis,and a coolant system that combineshigh pressure (up to 80 bar) with highvolume (up to 200 l/min). This uniquecoolant combination solves the problemof high cutting edge and tool facetemperatures.MAKINO’s uniqueness in machining titaniumEffective tool tip coolingHigh pressure andvolume coolantHigh accuracyThermal stabilizerand VACCutting vibration reducedand dampenedHigh rigid AC spindleHighly efficientTI cuttingControl of cuttingtool frequencySpecial toolHigh speed and stablebox guide withSemi-floatingslide systemLanding gear: the T4 is designed to machine titaniumparts of up to 4,000 mm x 2,000 mm x 700 mm8