Amtek helps with Mazak's grinding research

Amtek Precision Engineers has played host to three representatives from Yamazaki Mazak, a supplier of CNC lathes, machining centres and manufacturing systems.

Amtek purchased a Mazak Integrex 200-IV S CNC multi-tasking machine tool 18 months ago and it was this machine that brought the two parties together.

Visiting from Yamazaki Mazak's headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, were: Keita Kawachi, assistant chief of product development (Department 2); Sadik Atay, sales engineering director, Mazak Europe; and Toshi Shimizu, chief of sales group for Integrex-e Products.

It was Shimizu's doctorate degree that was the catalyst for the visit to Amtek.

Based on researching improvements in the process of CNC grinding, Mr Shimizu's study consisted of two key elements.

The first involved looking at existing grinding processes, including efficient use of processes, direction of the correct pressure coolant to the most critical areas of the process and the filtering of the coolant and processing of the fine swarf in the most environmental way.

The second involved examining the application of this improved process in the context of multi-tasking machines.

Mazak's Done-in-One complete machining of a part on a multi-tasking machine was a good environment for improvements in grinding to be tested and challenged.

From Amtek's experience in hard and soft metal machining, the key challenge was to combine several processes in one machine while identifying the machine features that needed to be adapted in order for the machine to respond to the demands of the process.

An optimum multi-tasking machine is the one that can achieve the most efficient process integration of these processes itself.

Increasing the machine's productivity by reducing set-up, non-cutting and down-time were the main areas of interest for the machine manufacturer.

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