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News Release from: ACI (UK)
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 July 2005
Anilam CNCs continue with Semco VMCs
Following the merger of the Semco machine tool operation with Ajax Machine Tools, the Anilam 6000 Series multi-axis CNC system will continue to be supplied with Semco VMCs.
Measurement and control specialist ACI (UK) reports that the Anilam 6000 Series multi-axis CNC system will continue to be supplied with Semco MCV 300 Mini Mill vertical machining centres, following recent moves that have seen the merger of the Semco machine tool operation with Ajax Machine Tools Barry Main, managing director of the former Semco Machine Tools, as well as his installation and service team, have moved the short distance from Southampton to Ajax's impressive New Forest facility at Lymington, and are now offering the Semco Mini Mill and Masterturn CNC lathe ranges as brands within Ajax's impressive portfolio
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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In addition, the organisation is also honouring all warranties on existing installations of Semco machines.
With X, Y and Z axes travels of 610mm by 305mm by 460mm, and a 5.5/7.5kW motor producing spindle speeds of 8,000/10,000 rev/min, the MCV 300 Mini Mill is enjoying continuing sales success - so far this year, 20 machines have been supplied to users throughout the UK.
The machine has rapid traverse rates of 20m/min in X and Y axes, and 18m/min in Z.
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It features a 10-station ATC and tool change time is 6.5s.
Construction is based around the use of meehanite casting and rigid boxway structure.
Described by Main: "As the digital control package that boasts best-in-class and easy-to-use functionality with cost-effectiveness," the Anilam 6000 Series CNC combines Anilam's conversational Machinist's Language programming routines with G Code programming to create a CNC that has an unrivalled level of performance and user-friendliness within a single system.
It boasts a powerful 586 DX4 133 PC processor and 16 Mbytes of RAM, plus a 12in TFT screen.
The control has enhanced mould and die capability (scaling, mirror image, modal corner rounding/chamfering, for example) as well as a host of canned cycles including mould rotation and draft angle.
It also features a CAM programming mode for interactive programming using icons (moves shown as they are being programmed), menu-driven tooling, tool compensation and interference checking, as well as built-in post-processor.
Simulation graphic functions embrace rapid, feed and compensated moves (colour differentiated) isometric views, auto part fit, window zoom and static tool display, for instance.
Canned cycles include: * Irregular pockets - a simple routine of prompts produces clearances of irregular shapes.
* Geometry - the geometry calculator, for determining points, lines and circles, automatically forms the program foundation.
* Bolt hole pattern and drill cycles - created by simple question and answer routines.
The control also features Anilam's Integral Programmable Intelligence, so there is no need for a separate PLC unit and, compared to older CNC systems accompanied by a separate bank of drives, these are now housed in one compact module.
Its continued use on the Semco Mini Mills was inevitable, according to Ajax's managing director William Savin, "Because the Anilam control technology dovetails perfectly with Ajax's established philosophy of supplying 'affordable, long-lasting and high quality' turnkey solutions to organisations throughout the world, in particular training and educational establishments." Ajax solutions are based on an impressive portfolio of turret mills (with Acu-Rite digital readouts and Acu-Rite MillPwr CNC), CNC bed mills, vertical machining centres, drilling machines, universal lathes, manual/CNC lathes, grinding machines and vertical and horizontal bandsaws, for example.
In particular, Savin cites the range of Apollo QT lathes with simple-to-use Quick Turn control as a package that: "Everyone who sees it, buys it." The control allows even inexperienced CNC operators to produce the most complicated workpieces in easy steps via touch screen prompts.
He adds that the Semco ranges generate an unrivalled platform for Ajax to further improve its single-source solutions philosophy.
"The Mini Mill and Masterturn lathes, coupled with the existing Ajax brands, enable us to present an unmatched level of cost-competitive technologies that competitors are hard pushed to match," he says.
"In terms of turn/mill packages in particular, Ajax can now offer a formidable series of machine-control combinations based around Acu-Rite, Anilam and Fanuc technology, so I can see the marriage of Ajax and Semco being a long and happy relationship.".
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