Product category:
Vertical machining centres (VMC)
News Release from: Hurco Europe | Subject: Ultimax CNC system at MACH 2008
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 May 2008
Celebrity learns to program VMC
machining in 6h
During the recent UK MACH 2008 show, Hurco Europe recruited a professional dancer, actress and singer to learn and to demonstrate the programming of machine cutting paths.
Hurco Europe reinforced its claim that its twin-screen Ultimax CNC system is the easiest control to use for shop floor programming of vertical machining centres (VMC) on the company's stand at the UK's recent MACH 2008 machine tool show The company had recruited Jenny Bowen, a professional dancer, actress and singer, who learnt to program a VMC in 6h ready to demonstrate the control during the show
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Feb 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Hurco increases machining centre size
Hurco has introduced a larger vertical-spindle, 3- to 5-axis machining centre suited in particular to mould and die manufacture, aerospace components, job shop applications and short-run production.
One-stop EDM toolmaker buys CNC milling
An EDM toolmaker-come-general subcontractor wanting to expand into prismatic metalcutting has bought a Hurco machining centre to offer a one-stop service
Hurco Europe said that after just 6h training at its UK showroom and technical centre in High Wycombe, Bowen was able to program a cutter path to produce a demonstration component using the control's conversational programming and touch-screen navigation.
Weeks later at the NEC, after a short refresher on the first morning of MACH, she was able to demonstrate the user-friendliness of the Ultimax 4 shown running the latest WinMax Windows-based software.
During the show, Bowen programmed a 2D component that comprised five blended arcs flowing into a straight line, a large central hole that was interpolated by a milling cutter, and various other drilled holes including eight spaced as 12 holes on an incomplete pitch circle of 65mm diameter.
Further reading
Toolmaker adds on machining centres
In answer to demands for prismatic machining as well as EDM, toolmaker Forum Services purchased a Hurco 4020 HTM machining centre
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.
Programming all the individual elements of the cycle took just 3 min, although each presentation lasted 8 min including explanation of the simple steps involved.
During the exhibition, Bowen commented: "Before going to Hurco, I had absolutely no knowledge of machine tools and my computer skills do not go further than writing e-mails.
Yet I found it a 'breeze' to learn how to program using the Ultimax control".
She continued: "As my confidence has grown from making repeated demonstrations at MACH, I can now easily correct any mistakes I make".
"The on-screen prompts automatically inform me of the location and nature of any programming error.
Stand visitors have been surprised and impressed when I tell them my background and complete lack of engineering experience".
Managing director of Hurco Europe, David Waghorn, said: "Shop floor programming is just as important today as it has ever been, particularly in the UK where we tend to specialise in one-offs and small batch manufacture".
He continued: "Although most engineering workshops have some form of CADCAM, the smart ones use shop floor programming as much as possible for 2D work and save computer-aided procedures for complex 3D surfaces".
Waghorn added: "In developing WinMax software, we made its operation as simple as possible with prompts and graphical help, whilst making the control versatile and open for a huge variety of applications.
Although its greatest strength lies in its conversational programming, industry-standard NC with macro programming is also a standard feature". Request a free brochure from Hurco Europe ...
• Hurco Europe: 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
