Large HMC selected for fast cycle times, torque

For machining large parts of up to 1m size, a horizontal machining centre was chosen for its large capacity, high torque, fast cycle times, easy and quick set up and reliability.

Well known for its rigid and robust horizontal machining centres, Redditch based Heller Machine Tools has received an order for an MCH 350 machining centre.

The machine is being installed to machine large (up to one metre) parts for automotive components, and was selected because of the large capacity, high torque, fast cycle times, easy and quick set up and reliability.

The machine is to be incorporated into a crucial cell at the customer's manufacturing plant in the UK.

The order is for a full turnkey package, which includes the design and manufacture of the hydraulic fixtures and a complete tooling package.

Prove out and pre-production parts will be at Heller's own manufacturing plant.

The machine is to be used to manufacture small batches of high value components, the continuous supply of which is essential to each day's production.

Little buffer stock can be carried because of the size and intrinsic value of the components, so production must be maintained according to schedule.

Heller was selected as the machine tool partner in this programme because of its second-to-none reputation for customer service and support and capabilities for turnkey applications engineering as well as the proven reliability and longevity of its machines.

All the applications engineering is being completed at Heller's Redditch, UK plant by Heller engineers, along with the design and manufacture of the five-port hydraulic fixtures, selected to give easy, fast part clamping and unclamping.

The MCH 350 has been ordered as a standard machine with an HSK-A 100 spindle and a Siemens 840D control.

As with other machines in the MCH range, it is manufactured as a one piece cast iron construction with a T-shaped bed and integrated X and Y feed drives.

The X-, Y- and Z-axes are equipped with low friction, pre-loaded roller bearings to eliminate backlash and give high positioning accuracy.

The swivelling pallet changer is integrated into the machine bed, with the pallet and clamping fixture completely enclosed during pallet change-over.

The manually rotated setting station has 4x900 indexing (an automatically rotated setting station is an option).

The fixed rotary table has 360x10 for precise repetition (an NC rotary table with 360,000x0.0010 is optional).

The spindle drive has precision bearings and is free from transverse forces and spindle replacement is from the front.

Thermal growth compensation is on-line.

The 50 pocket (100 pocket option) tool chain mechanism automatically selects the shortest path and can accept oversize tools up to 600mm length.

Swarf removal is optimised by steep swarf chutes and powerful scraping conveyors each side of the Z axis.

Geoff Lloyd, managing director of Heller, said: "This machine is critical to the production line.

We were selected because our machines are recognised for their reliability and our engineers for their detailed and expert knowledge.

Our customer is looking for trouble free production and we are able to supply that.

The turnkey production solution which we supplied with the MCH 350 includes a two year preventative maintenance programme.

As is typical of Heller, we are providing a second-to-none package for high productivity and excellent repeatability, tailored to suit the exact needs of our customer.".

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