Horizontal machining centres raise productivity

Horizontal machining centres with a capacious working envelope have a compact footprint, giving greater productivity/m floor space and highly efficient swarf evacuation.

Heller Machine Tools is to launch a range of UK manufactured horizontal machining centres (HMC) at the UK's MACH 2008 machine tool exhibition.

Described as newly developed machine concept, the H series assures availability for production, higher cutting performance, increased reliability and easy maintenance to provide economic efficiency and productivity whatever the machining requirement.

The H Series is a dvelopment of the proven Heller MCi and MCH technology, and will be manufactured at Heller's site in Redditch (West Midlands).

Heller said that its extensive development work has produced a reliable performance package ideal for the production of varying volumes in even the harshest machining environment.

Developed by Heller's design engineers to meet the demand for low operating costs, fast cycle times, powerful stock removal and easy maintenance, the H series horizontal machining centres gives the ability to manufacture even complex parts quickly, accurately and with a low overall production cost.

With a capacious working envelope, each of the H series machines have a compact footprint, giving greater productivity per square meter of floor space, highly efficient swarf evacuation, and are configured for both MQL and wet cutting.

Combining maximum standardisation with maximum versatility, the H series, can be customised.

Excellent milling power and load capacity can be configured with application- oriented packages to achieve outstanding productivity.

Optimised topology of the casting structure of the machine bed and column give extremely high static and dynamic rigidity at the same time as having reduced machine weight.

* Easier installation - the compact footprint and minimised machine weight facilitate machine installation without anchoring by means of vibration-damping levelling wedges.

A well laid out work area with free fall of swarf beneath the spindle ensures easy cleaning and the new coolant purging system at the tool helps to save coolant and provides faster tool change.

* 'Entry' HMC models - the two entry models designed for medium volume production, the H 1000 and H 3000, combine high cutting performance with the proven machine up- time.

Optimised, realistic dynamic rates provide an extension to tool life and a saving of energy and operational costs.

Each machine is fitted with a robust rotary table and a chain-type magazine with 54 places as standard.

Even extra large or extra long tools can be accommodated.

* Improved ergonomics and operation - easy accessibility to the workpiece is provided on the setting station.

Smooth running of the setting station and work area safety door and improved work area lighting increase accuracy during workpiece loading.

The workpiece setting station is rotated via an easy-to-operate foot release.

The operating panel is integrated into the safety guards and can be swivelled.

H 2000 and H 4000 feature a twin-drive in the Z-axis and direct absolute measuring systems in all axes.

To aid swarf evacuation there are reduced chip accumulating surfaces, steep chip chutes and free chip fall beneath the spindle together with a chip conveyor width of 600mm to ensure a clean work area.

A new purging system for cleaning the cooling channels in the tool after use helps to save coolant and minimises tool change times.

Apart from individual machine configuration, two optional packages are available on the H 2000 and H 4000.

1 - The Power Pack is customised for heavy-duty cutting of cast iron and steel materials, and has the option of the proven zero-spindle system with a 38kW spindle with 242Nm torque and 10,000 rev/min instead of the standard 17kW standard spindle with 81Nm torque and 10,000 rev/min.

2 - The Speed Pack is customised for non-ferrous machining, where fast and high accuracy work is required.

Two different spindles are available: a 40kW spindle with a torque of 96Nm and a speed of 16,000 rev/min or a fast spindle with 24,000 rev/min, a maximum power of 25kW and maximum torque of 40Nm.

* Standard features - SK40, HSK63 and BT40 spindle tapers are available for all types.

Each machining centre is equipped with a standard tool magazine with 54 tool places and can be upgraded at any time to 160 tools.

Extra large or extra long tools up to 350mm or 450mm (H 4000) can be accommodated.

Chip-to-chip times for both models are between 2 and 3s.

Managing director of Heller, Geoff Lloyd said: "The H series horizontal machining centres are the machines which the market has been waiting for - small footprint, extremely versatile, easily tailored.

We are proud that the Heller UK manufacturing plant has been selected to manufacture these machines".

* Heller Machine Tools at MACH 2008, NEC, Birmingham, UK, April 21-25, Hall 5, Stand 5430.

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