Mike Page, Editor, writes:
We see from your search that you're looking for information on the term "Automatic Tool Change",
and we have a large number of manufacturers' news releases and technical articles here on Manufacturingtalk which will be of interest.
Let me be your guide.
Start with
the news release Robotic routing system trims mouldings faster from
KMT Robotic Solutions, which we summarised at the time by saying "Robotic routing system, combined with CAD/CAM, is claimed to significantly reduce cycle times for trimming thermoformed, injection moulded and rotationally moulded parts".
A couple of weeks before,
we featured the news release Water jet cutting machines have bevel head from
MicroStep UK: "Water jet cutting machines feature a programmable bevel head that allows angled cuts of +/-45 deg, while plasma-arc stations and drilling heads with automatic tool change can be added".
In January 2008, we covered the news from CMS Group (UK)
concerning its Antares 5-axis CNC machining centre
- take a look at Machining centre, 5-axis, mills Al and non-metals
which says: "For machining non-ferrous metals and non-metals a 5-axis machining centre a more stiffness to the 5-axis cutting head than is normally associated with machines of this type".
Take a look also at the news release from Cincinnati Machine, Five-axis machining centre has 150 deg tilt table,
as well as Moving bridge VMC is very dynamic, accurate from Unisign,
and Linear drive EDM machines 10t dies from Sodi-Tech edm.
See also:
Modular pallet magazine automates machining
(September 2007)
Latest version of a modular and flexible pallet magazine has a control system that offers an easy-to-learn and use graphical interface that guides and supports users
Ultrasonics aids hard machining in a VMC
(September 2007)
Using ultrasonics frequencies up to 48kHz to vibrate a cutting tool in a VMC enables hard machining and high speed machining as well as machining conventionally in the same machine
Horizontal machining centre loading simplified
(August 2007)
A horizontal machining centre has an efficient positive 180 deg rotating pallet change system that provides convenient pallet accessibility for simplified work loading
Horizontal machining centres are very dynamic
(July 2007)
Built for the production machining of non-ferrous metals, cast irons or hardened steels, Heller's MCi dynamic horizontal machining centres have increased acceleration and precise positioning accuracy
Mill/turn centre uses up to four turrets
(May 2007)
For machining complex parts in one set-up, a twin opposed-spindle mill-turn lathe can have two, three or four disc-type, Y-axis turrets, each holding 10 driven or static tools on both faces
Travelling column VMC is under GBP 90,000
(March 2007)
A travelling column vertical machining centre (VMC) is a compact 'entry level' twin-table machine that accepts work up to 1800mm long or operates in 'pendelum' mode
5-axis machining centre goes on show
(March 2007)
Leader CNC Technologies, the UK and Ireland distributor of Kitamura Machinery has demonstrated the 5-axis Kitamura Mytrunnion 1 machining centre at an exhibition
Turning centre deploys 80 tools without a magazine
(December 2006)
A 15-axis mill-turn centre of twin-opposed-spindle configuration and may be equipped with two, three or four disc turrets - deploying up to 80 tools without a tool magazine
CNC machine tools bring in precision manufacturing
(November 2006)
CNC machine tools propelled a company from a subcontractor of manually machined parts to one capable of producing very high precision, repeatable components
Innovative welding technology shown at EuroBLECH
(November 2006)
A number of product innovations in welding machine and robotic technology as well as highly efficient process technologies - including thin plate welding
Modernise and automate power press working
(October 2006)
Swedish press manufacturer advocates everything from building entirely new factories to breathing 'new life' into existing power press systems using modern automation
Flexible machining system is user-friendly
(October 2006)
A simple, user-friendly machining cell has five machining modules mounted on the same frame, which combines the high productivity of parts within a 300mm3 cube with excellent flexibility
5-axis machining centre turns and grinds too
(September 2006)
Multi-function machining centre can machine, turn and grind complex components and has an extremely fast tool-to-tool time of 1.1s that works with a 60 position tool changing system
Innovative highlights shown in arc welding
(August 2006)
Cold process arc welding - to be demonstrated in a turnkey robotic system - reduces component distortion and the burn off of a coating when welding coated plate assemblies
Rotary production machining cells ordered
(May 2006)
Within six months of its world launch at EMO 2005 machine tool exhibition in Hannover, four Mikron NRG-50 12 station rotary production machining cells have been ordered for European factories
Five-axis machining centre can also turn
(March 2006)
Five-axis CNC vertical machining centre offers a 1,000 rev/min trunnion-mounted table, allowing components to be turned in conjunction with a static tool in the spindle
High-speed VMC cuts machining time by third
(February 2006)
Twin-pallet, high-speed, vertical-spindle machining centre achieved a cycle time over one-third faster than the next best machine when producing an aluminium chassis for a telecoms customer
Semi-automatic bending centres introduced
(February 2006)
Comprising hydraulic and servo electric constructions, semi-automatic bending centres extend the production to new applications areas such as perforated material or sheets with big forms
Large diecastings machined at higher speeds
(January 2006)
Die-casting company has identified what it believes to be the best large-capacity, light-duty horizontal machining centre for machining the larger die-castings more efficiently
Subcontractor invests in 5-axis machining
(December 2005)
Looking for 'one-hit', five-axis machining with high dimensional accuracy, a subcontract machine shop also sought a machining centre supplier that could offer rapid response service support
VMCs offer high quality construction
(November 2005)
With high-quality construction and hardened and ground box slideways, open fronted vertical machining centres, feature 20-bar through-spindle coolant, rigid tapping and fourth axis interface
CNC turret punch press is at affordable level
(November 2005)
Latest Finn-Power 230kN hydraulic turret punch press has been priced at a highly affordable level and has a working area is 1250mm x 2500mm without repositioning
Rotary transfer machine accuracies raised
(July 2005)
Rotary transfer machine enables higher levels of accuracy to be met by combining production sequences into a 'single-hit' cycle for large batch, medium batches of families of components
Quiet VMCs have efficient chip management
(May 2005)
Quietness in operation, even at 10,000 rev/min, and also for the clean working environment that results from efficient chip management determined RP company's choice of VMC
Large machining centre turns too
(March 2005)
Travelling bridge-type machining centre has an integrated vertical turning capability for completing large, complex components in 'one hit'
Robot eliminates hand polishing of wing panels
(January 2005)
Eliminating the need for hand polishing, a robot is being used to polish aircraft wing access panels, to remove machining marks, in batches of up to 48 access panels of 12 different sizes
Mill-turning centre has horizontal/vertical axis
(April 2004)
Mill-turning centre has three distinct modules all in one machine; a turning unit with horizontal axis, a turning unit with vertical axis and a multi-purpose head with a swivelling B axis
Tapping centres upgrade to 4/5-axis VMC status
(March 2004)
Moving-column drill-tapping machine, having 30 taper tooling, a more powerful spindle motor and a chain-type tool magazine, is now more accurately described as a VMC
Angle heads and speeders to be introduced
(February 2004)
New and improved angle-heads and speeders will be unveiled at MACH 2004 alongside a range of multi-spindle drilling / tapping heads and rotary coolant adaptors for prismatic machining
Powerful machining centre turns and mills
(January 2004)
A powerful, portal-type vertical turning and milling centre, for five-sides machining, has its pallet changer located sideways at the rear to improve operator access to the machining area
'Entry level' HMC range expanded
(September 2003)
Following the earlier introduction of its lower priced 'entry-level'A51 HMC, Makino is now producing two larger machines based on the same design
VMC offers fully interpolative, 5-axis machining
(September 2003)
Fully interpolative, 5-axis CNC machining is becoming increasingly popular for the production of ever more complex components in a single clamping, hence the introduction of this VMC
Toolmaker adds on spindles and factory management
(September 2003)
Toolholding product manufacturer that introduced a limited range of specialist cutting tools has diversified again into air turbine spindles and factory management software
Fast and rapid linear and rotary motions win out
(July 2003)
High productivity, derived from fast rapid motions in the linear and rotary axes, is claimed to set these HMCs apart from competitors, said the supplier