Product category:
5-axis (3+2 axes and continuous path) machining centres
News Release from: Agie Charmilles | Subject: UCP 600 'Vario' 5-axis milling m/c
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 February 2008
Five-axis machining centre runs unmanned
High performance 5-axis machining centre configuration offers set-ups, reduced workholding, improved part quality, improved cycle times and is able to run unattended and unmanned.
AIM has recently invested in a new Mikron UCP 600 'Vario' high-performance 5-axis milling machine from GF AgieCharmilles Installed at the company's Clevedon, Somerset, UK facility in April 2007 the machining centre is being used to manufacture high-precision complex components used within the aerospace sector
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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AIM purchased the UCP 600 'Vario' to meet the demands of a new long-term contract to manufacture high-precision (and high-value) aerospace component parts.
The parts are machined from from solid aluminium and had been previously manufactured by AIM on the company's existing machines.
Whilst this arrangement had been satisfactory in terms of meeting customer part quality and delivery time requirements - the new contract was for more parts.
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It demanded higher manufacturing output and productivity - more parts required within tighter deadlines.
AIM's managing director, Rob Kendall, said that the new contract meant that the company had to review the way it made the family of parts.
He said: "The nature of the component, and the quantities required, pointed us in the direction of a 5-axis simultaneous machining solution".
AIM is well used to 5-axis machining havid had invested in its first 5-axis machine in 2000, which was a standard Mikron UCP 600 5-axis machine.
AIM added a second, larger, 5-axis machine a few years later.
Kendall explained: "Initially we were considering investing in a second UCP 600 machine to cope with the new order - but having contacted GF AgieCharmilles we began discussing the possibility of a more production-oriented 5-axis machine (UCP 600 'Vario') equipped with integrated automation".
The 'Vario' 5-axis machine is designed for production and is equipped with an integrated seven-station automatic pallet changer.
The machine's configuration enables customers to benefit from all the advantages of 5-axis 'one-hit' machining, such as the following.
* Reduced set-ups.
* Reduced workholding.
* Improved part quality.
* Improved cycle times.
* Run unattended and unmanned, virtually 'around the clock'.
To fully capitalise on the machine's capabilities and to ensure maximum productivity meant AIM would need to develop new and innovative workholding and fixturing.
Kendall said: "Previously we used to manufacture the aerospace part (one at a time) by setting the job up on the machine's table and machining the outer face".
"The job was then transferred to another 4-axis machine to complete the inside face of the component".
He continued: "With the arrival of the Vario with its APC - we designed a cube (four-face) workholding solution that allows us to machine four parts per pallet in one-hit.
We now also machine the inside face of the part on the 'Vario' as well using a similar cube workholding solution".
* Productivity gains - the productivity gains from this arrangement are exceptional, said Agie Charmilles to manufacturingtalk.com.
More parts are now being produced by AIM (up to 160 parts per month), in less time and to better quality.
Prior to the 'Vario' and cube workholding solution one part was produced every 40 min - now four parts are produced every hour.
Other advantages include less production bottlenecks and faster throughput, because the job is no longer transferred between machines.
Concluded Kendall: "The new machine has boosted our productivity - we're faster, our quality has improved and our prices (cost per part) are more competitive too.
As a progressive manufacturing company we recognise the performance benefits we can achieve through investing in multi-axis machine tools.
The purchase of the 'Vario' provides clear evidence that the investment decision was the right one to make".
* About AIM - the company was established in 1973 and today employs 33 people.
AIM specialises in the manufacture of high-precision complex parts and works, virtually exclusively, in the aerospace sector.
A.I.M specialises in providing its customers with a total manufacturing solution - design, manufacture, special treatments, assembly and delivery.
The company operates from five adjacent units in Clevedon (near Bristol) and, in addition to its latest 5-axis machine - has over 30 other CNC machine tools (milling and turning) installed at these facilities.
As well as CNC machines the company has invested in state of the art CMM technology and CAD/CAM capability.
* About the UCP 600 'Vario' - the UCP 600 'Vario' is a high-performance 5-axis machine designed for both positional and simultaneous machining.
The machine is equipped with a 30kW 20,000 rev/min spindle (91Nm) and 22m/min rapid feeds on all three linear axes.
Machining versatility is ensured via the machine's 360 deg capability on its rotary axis and -115/+30 deg capability on its tilting axis, and by its generous automatic tool changer (up to 220 tool position) and seven-station automatic pallet changer.
The machine is supplied with the tried and tested Heidenhain iTNC 530 control and GF AgieCharmilles SMART technology software that helps to optimise the 5-axis machining process.
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