Product category:
Large milling and boring machines (over 2000mm in X)
News Release from: CMS Group (UK) | Subject: Poseidon modular CNC machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 November 2007
Modular machining centres mill at high
speeds
Modular machining centdfes can be built up to 8m by 40m (X and Y axis) to order for machining large aluminium or composite components in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries.
Nottingham-based CMS Group has introduced Poseidon modular CNC machining centres to the UK CMS said that the machines are intended for companies looking to increase their competitiveness in the high speed, precision machining of large components
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Five-axis machining centres get linear drives
Five-axis CNC machining centres are offered with optional linear motor drives to X and Y axes for those seeking the very latest in production technology.
CMS UK now offers waterjet cutting systems
Tecnocut waterjet CNC cutting systems - with hundreds of systems installed worldwide - are now available from Nottingham based company CMS Group UK.
CMS said that the machines are ideal for the production of patterns and prototypes, trimming of large aluminium or composite components in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries, and machining of tooling board and sand moulds in foundries.
Large machining envelopes - the multi-axis machining centre range is based on a build platform that provides machines as large as 8m x 40m.
There is a choice of Z-axis travels of 1.2m, 2m, 2.5m, 3m, 3.5m or 4m, plus a variety of spindle sizes and rotary axis assemblies.
Further reading
Car builder buys advanced 5-axis machining centre
Machining centre with a 24,000 rev/min, high-speed, 12kW spindle that is liquid cooled offers positioning speeds up to 80m/min with acceleration rates of up to 3.0m/s2.
Machining centre, 5-axis, mills Al and non-metals
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.
Travelling column VMC has dual-pallet indexing
Vertical machining centre with a travelling column design and integrated rotary dual-pallet indexing system provides higher levels of productivity and output and efficient workpiece loading/unloading.
Modular construction means that customers can ask CMS to match their precise needs, instead of having to compromise by selecting the nearest fit from a list of standard machines.
This flexibility, said CMS to manufacturingtalk.com, may avoid having to buy more machines than are really necessary to accommodate one particular requirement, be it the weight, length, width or height of a workpiece or any other deciding factor.
The manager of CMS UK, Toni Nagiel, said: "Several earlier models of these machines are in regular use within UK industry, producing such items as large (16m long) refrigerated lorry panels, sand moulds for patterns and carbon fibre parts for super-cars".
He said: "We see Poseidon as being particularly relevant for aerospace customers needing composite and large aluminium machining capabilities, as well as for automotive car body parts or in the marine industry for machining plugs for boat hulls and pattern making, etc.
The machines are fast, too, with all models in the range, whatever their size, offering axes speeds of up to 85 m/min".
* Modular concept - all Poseidon machining centres employ a moving bridge geometry with the gantry carrying one or two spindle drives.
Each drive has independently controlled cross traverse and vertical movement, so they can work independently or as a pair, thereby adding flexibility to the machines' capabilities.
Although a wide variety of table types is available, including those with conventional T-slots, vacuum tables and programmable pod systems and shuttles, some machines for really large components have been supplied without any table at all.
This allows large parts to be put straight onto the floor.
Furthermore, to help accommodate machines with extra large Z-axis strokes, CMS has devised a highly innovative, double acting ram design that not only reduces the roof height required to house the machine but also increases the rigidity of the axis.
* Range of spindle assemblies - various accuracy levels are available, from precision rack to full rotary and linear scale technology, so users can choose the most suitable level for their particular needs.
High-speed cutting technology is used to its fullest advantage, both in terms of power and control, with a choice of spindle speeds of up to 40,000 rev/min and power ranging from 4kW up to 28kW.
There are different tool clamping methods and torque characteristics sufficient to cover all types of materials, said CMS.
The 28kW spindle, for example, can handle saw blades up to 850mm in diameter.
Precision encoders and a double sensor for each rotating axis guarantee accuracy.
The tool magazines, accommodating from 8 to 30 tools, are sited at the sides of the machine.
The size of the tools required and the number of tool changes per cycle influences the choice of whether to use a linear rack or rotary tool store.
In addition to the choice of machine size, the user can select up to five CNC axes, with pneumatic braking for the two rotating axes if they are not required to run in full simultaneous interpolation mode.
The user also selects spindle speed and power, tool management, CAD-CAM software integration and machine status interface.
Nagiel said, "Automatic tool setting and spindle alignment is an important option and most customers buy it.
The system checks for machine head alignment as well as setting tool lengths automatically and a laser version is available for checking tool diameter".
CMS has developed a new direct-drive spindle head, which has rotational movement in two orthogonal axes.
It dramatically increases the machine's dynamic performance under continuous 5-axis operation.
The use of torque motors and the absence of mechanical wear parts ensure that peak performance is maintained without the need for corrective intervention.
* Innovation - as with many other Italian machine tool manufacturers, CMS frequently introduces innovative designs.
The ring pressure device, for example, is available for rapid clamping and machining of stacks of sheets, without the need for screws.
A low vertical pressure ensures that the sheets are held firmly during the cutting cycle.
Minimum sheet thickness is 0.5mm and maximum stack height is 12mm.
Automatic de-tagging of parts is a major benefit to users.
Tags of about 5mm are left during cutting and are automatically removed at the end of the cycle.
As the ring pressure device is a high-productivity option, a workpiece handling system is essential, which can be supplied by CMS as part of the package, together with the control software.
Nagiel said, in the report to manufacturingtalk: "Within most manufacturing plants, a machine tool out of a catalogue rarely represents the whole answer to a user's production requirements.
Software, fixtures, clamping systems, chip/dust collection and parts handling all play a part.
At CMS, we believe that only a customised solution, based on long years of experience, and the ability to configure our machine tools to accurately match any given task, even extending to the type of enclosure used to maximise space and provide easy access, will satisfy customer demands in today's highly competitive markets.".
• CMS Group (UK): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
