Product category:
Vertical machining centres (VMC)
News Release from: Hurco Europe | Subject: VMX vertical machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 May 2001
Swarf management improved on Hurco's VMX
M-Cs
Five vertical machining centres carrying the prefix VMX have been introduced by Hurco, four of which have considerably upgraded specifications in terms of speed and working envelope.
Five vertical machining centres carrying the prefix VMX have been introduced by Hurco, four of which have considerably upgraded specifications particularly in terms of speed and working envelope compared with the models they supersede The other machine - VMX50 - is new, having been launched at the IMTS show in Chicago last September (2000)
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Of particular note is the greatly improved swarf management, which is now standard on most VMX models.
Chips are effectively removed by flooding coolant over the component and table from a ring of built-in coolant jets around the spindle nose.
Coolant is also delivered down troughs alongside the Y-axis slideway covers towards a spiral chip auger, which is positioned parallel to the X axis in the base of the machine at the front.
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Hurco introduces its first 5-axis VMC
Among the new machines launched by Hurco this year at the EMO machine tool exhibition in Hannover was the company's first ever 5-axis vertical machining centre, designated MXU 40.
From here the chips are fed into an easily removable swarf bucket at the side.
Rather than having a flat surface, the way covers on all machines have been designed with a double sloping 'tent' cross section to encourage chips to fall away.
Supporting the goal of fast washdown of swarf from the working area is easy installation of through-spindle coolant.
The new VMX50 is a 3-, 4- or 5-axis machining centre which is particularly suited to mould and die manufacture, profiling of aerospace components, job shop applications and short-run production.
It has an impressive specification for its class including a 1,270 x 660 x 610 mm working envelope and a high torque, 11 kW (18.75 kW peak), 10,000 rpm spindle motor which accelerates to full speed in 4.5 seconds.
Contributing to high productivity are the fast rapid traverse rates of 30 m/min in X and Y, 20 m/min in Z, assisted by heavy duty linear guideways and pre-tensioned, double-nut ballscrews.
Cutting feed is also high at 7.6 m/min in all axes, promoting the superior quality machined finish so important in mould manufacture in particular to minimise hand finishing.
VMX24 is the smallest Hurco machining centre.
Taking over from the popular BMC2416M, it offers a number of enhancements at no additional cost.
Notable among these is a 25 per cent increase in Y-axis travel to 508 mm, whilst the Z-axis travel is up 20 per cent to 610 mm.
Maximum spindle speed is up from 8,000 to 10,000 rpm, delivered by a new, lightweight motor which does not need counterbalancing.
The same increases in Y-axis travel to 508 mm, spindle speed to 10,000 rpm and rapids to 30 m/min hold true for the VMX30 compared with the older machine model.
The VMX40 has the latter two enhancements whilst working envelope remains the same at 1,020 x 510 x 610 mm.
The price of this machine has been reduced by more than 10 per cent compared with last year.
The VMX64 size of machine was launched in 1999 as the BMC6434M, indicating that Hurco's entry into the larger machining centre arena has been relatively recent.
Axis travels remain the same at 1,625 x 860 x 760 mm but there is now the choice of 6,000, 8,000 or 10,000 rpm spindle speeds to suit high-torque and high-speed applications.
The 50 taper version of the VMX64 is available with 32 tool stations, compared with 24 stations maximum on the others.
ATC time is down to four seconds for tools of 6.8 kg or less, this being the standard specification.
The machine is capable of a massive 23 kW (30HP), ideal for heavy cutting applications.
All Hurco vertical machining centres are equipped with Ultimax 4, a patented, twin-screen, shop floor programming and control system.
It combines a simple question-and-answer format with calculation-assist for programming 2D contours, whilst maintaining full NC capability for working off-line.
An array of optional software tools include UltiDraw for direct DXF (AutoCAD) file translation; and UltiOpen which turns the second screen into a high-speed gateway to the Internet, enabling file downloads, e-mail access and networking capabilities. Request a free brochure from Hurco Europe ...
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