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Product category: Vertical machining centres (VMC)
News Release from: Colchester-Harrison | Subject: Storm vertical machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 20 December 2007

Vertical machining centres offer wide
choice

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Vertical machining centres are in a rang covering from a simple, low-cost, high rigidity general purpose machine, to a high specification type with 15,000 rev/min spindle and 48m/min rapid traverse.

Made in 10 variants, a single source for European designed vertical machining centres (VMC) has been set up by Colchester-Harrison for almost any production requirement These can range from a simple, low-cost but high rigidity general purpose machine, to a high specification machine with 15,000 rev/min machining spindle and 48m/min rapid traverse

This 'new generation' Storm VMC range also offers excellent value for money with high orders of operational flexibility and performance said Colchester-Harrison to manufacturingtalk.com.

The VMCs have the added advantage of a specification that can be easily customised.

Set into four main product groups, all having two large slide-aside doors giving good operational access, the range includes the following.

* The SP or standard machine is available in three sizes.

* The SD comprises two heavy duty types.

* The SH four versions, that are all high specification mid-range production machines.

* The SV comprises two top of the range model classifications, directed at higher performance, higher accuracy machining cycles.

The Storm range provides new levels of operability and flexibility with specifications and options that create a choice to customise the machine for any designated drilling or milling task.

Important in achieving these credentials is the high rigidity and power available, said Colchester-Harrison, and this is qualified by the use of high classification Meehanite castings to which the most desirable specification is added.

Heavy duty solid box ways are used on the SD 55 and SD 75, a combination of box ways on the Z-axis and linear ways on X- and Y-axis on the SP 600 and SP 1000.

Meanwhile, the larger SP 1500 is a heavier duty design through the use of box ways with the number of bearing surfaces doubled to four on the Y-axis.

The SH and SV machines are totally dedicated to linear ways.

Major elements in the different machine product group specifications are outlined as follows.

* The SP is available in 600, 1000 and 1500mm variants providing a 11kW, 10,000 rev/min spindle on the SP 600, 15kW, 10,000 rev/min on the SP 1000 and 15kW, 6,000 rev/min on the largest SP 1500.

Rapid traverse rates are 24m/min in X- and Y-axis and 18m/min in Z on the SP 600 and SP 1000 machines.

* On the larger box way SP 1500 the rapid traverse rates in X- and Y-axis are 15m/min and 12m/min in Z-axis.

The 24 position tool magazine is mated with a 1.9s dual-arm toolchange and control is via Fanuc Oi-MC.

* The two larger 50 taper, up to 10.5 tonne Storm SD machines have been developed around the machining of more difficult materials typical of mould and die applications.

Under Fanuc Oi-MC control, the 15kW 6,000 rev/min standard geared head has further options of 18kW, 8,000 or 13,000 rev/min.

Table size on the SD 55 is 1050mm by 560mm and axis travels are 1016mm by 550mm by 508mm.

On the SD 75, table size is 1550mm by 740mm and axis travels are 1530mm by 740mm by 660mm.

* Four sizes make up the SH or mid-range production machines with choice of Anilam 6000i or Fanuc Oi-MC controls.

Table sizes vary according to designation with the SH 610 having 700mm by 450mm, the SH 1020, 1100mm by 560mm, the SH 1200, 1260mm by 600mm and the SH 400, 1440mm by 600mm.

The SH 610 and SH 1020 have rapid traverse rates of 36m/min in X- and Y-axis and 24m/min in Z-axis.

The two larger machines have 24m/min in X- and Y-axis and 20m/min in Z-axis.

In order to satisfy different production demands, there is a range of spindle motor sizes from 7.5kW to 18kW and a maximum speed range from 10,000 rev/min to 15,000 rev/min.

The toolchange is by dual-arm taking 1.8s from a 24 tool magazine.

* Topping the range is the higher performance SV 850 and larger capacity SV 1100 machines.

Both can be specified with up to 48m/min rapid traverse and a range of spindle options up to 15,000 rev/min.

The 40 taper spindles are supported by 30 tool, dual-arm toolchange systems able to provide a tool-to-tool time of just 1.5s.

Control is via Fanuc 31i-MB or 18i-MB and Heidenhain iTNC 530 units.

Table sizes are 1000mm by 520mm and 1250mm by 610mm respectively with axis travels of 850mm in X, 520mm in Y, and 610mm in Z.

The larger SV 1100 machine has travels of 1100mm in X by 610mm in Y- and Z-axis.

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