Vertical machining centre has swivelling head

A 5-axis vertical machining centre features a thermally stabilised head with motor spindle that swivels about the B-axis, while the fifth CNC axis is provided by a horizontal rotary table.

Hurco Europe has introduced a 5-axis vertical machining centre (VMC), the VMX42SR.

It is based on the manufacturer's 3-axis machine of the same frame size but has a thermally stabilised head with motor spindle that swivels about the B-axis.

A horizontal rotary table provides the fifth NC axis.

Typical applications are machining of moulds and dies, aerospace components, medical components and impellers.

Hurco said that the configuration keeps the footprint as compact as possible for a 5-axis machine: 3.55m x 2.18m.

The machine has a special version of Hurco's new WinMax control software and graphics, which support 5-axis simultaneous interpolation and simplifies programming for five-sided machining.

Hurco quoted to manufacturingtalk.com the example that tool centre point management allows a user to cut the same part anywhere on the 610mm diameter table without having to repost the program.

Advanced simulation graphics on the second of the two Ultimax touch screens eliminate errors when cutting the part.

* Versatility - a high level of shop floor versatility and productivity is afforded by G-Code and conversational programming.

Other features include the following.

* True auto-interrupt/auto resume, which retracts the tool along an oriented tool axis and resumes where the operator left off.

* Toolpath linearisation, which eliminates unwanted loops when cutting the part.

* 3D tool geometry compensation allows the use of different ballnose tool diameters for surface contouring using the same NC program.

The 24kW spindle has a maximum speed of 12,000 rev/min.

Component weight is up to 500kg and rapid traverse is 35m/min in the X- and Y-axis and 30m/min in Z-axis.

Repeatability is +/-4 micron.

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