Product category:
Vertical machining centres (VMC)
News Release from: Leader CNC | Subject: Kitamura Mycenter 3Xvertical machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 June 2007
VMC with advanced CNC saves 40% on
machining
Using a vertical machining centre's 15,000 rev/min spindle and the advanced look ahead features on its CNC, a company is realising 40% savings machining 3D profiles in advanced alloys.
A UK subcontractor is machining Wolfmet tungsten heavy alloy components at a very high production rate using Kitamura vertical machining centres The specialist manufacturer of materials for science and industry, M and I Materials, is optimising the rigidity and accuracy of its three Kitamura machines to deliver exceptionally high quality components for a wide variation of demanding industry sectors
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 18 Jul 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Since going into private ownership, the international business of M and I Materials has more than tripled its turnover in 10 years.
This has enabled the company to invest heavily in its state-of-the-art 14,000m2 manufacturing facility at Trafford Park, Manchester.
Part of the significant investment includes three Kitamura Mycenters.
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Available from Leader CNC of Nuneaton, UK, the Kitamura Mycenter 3X with Nikken 4th axis at M and I Materials has automatic probing.
A second Mycenter 3X has twin pallet loading.
Alongside these two machines is a larger Kitamura Mycenter 4X that also has a twin pallet facility.
Wolfmet Tungsten Alloys have been developed to provide engineering solutions for many industries.
Wolfmet materials consist of 90 - 97% Tungsten.
The alloys have extremely high density and are used to manufacture components used to add balance, vibration damping mass or radiation shielding.
They include critical elements in the aerospace, nuclear medicine, automotive and motor sport sectors.
The ISO9001: 2000 and AS9100 accredited division acquired its two Mycenter 3X machines in 2004 with the Mycenter 4X being introduced in March 2007 to work with larger parts and provide additional capacity capabilities.
With components manufactured in batches from one offs to long production runs with a wide variation of parts; the twin pallet capability serves M and I Materials extremely well.
Production manager David Gill said: "Utilising the 15,000 rev/min high speed spindle and the advanced 'look ahead' features for data smoothing of the Fanuc 16i control, the Kitamura machines have enabled us to make 40% savings on process times when machining 3D profiles." This productivity saving has been further enhanced by the 4th axis units.
The units have enabled M and I to reduce the number of operations required to manufacture certain parts and this has undoubtedly reduced manufacturing times even further.
Another major saving has come via the machines twin pallet set-up as Gill continued: "The twin pallet machines allow for loading while one pallet is machining.
This immediately cuts processing times as we can machine one part whilst setting up the next.
It also gives us the ability to run prove out jobs on the early shift on one pallet and move back to a running job on the late shift on the second pallet.
This is a major benefit to us considering our diverse product range." All parts manufactured at M and I Materials feature exceptionally close dimensional tolerances as well as weight tolerances.
This additional tolerance means that critical quality control procedures are in place.
Part of the company's procedure involves six-monthly checks of the machines with a Renishaw Ballbar.
The outstanding build quality of the Kitamura Mycenters incorporates a ballscrew cooling system and the renowned Kitamura Intelligent Advanced Control (IAC) that guarantee positional, repeatability and roundness accuracy.
This ensures that the original machine accuracy parameters are continually maintained.
The long-term accuracy of the Mycenters is delivered by the rigidity and accuracy of the box slideways.
"Guaranteeing this accuracy and performance is major plus for us, especially when machining the Tungsten Heavy Alloy materials we manufacture.
The Kitamura's give us a powerful, accurate and easy to use range of vertical machining centres," concluded Gill. Request a free brochure from Leader CNC ...
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