Horizontal machining centre loading simplified

A horizontal machining centre has an efficient positive 180 deg rotating pallet change system that provides convenient pallet accessibility for simplified work loading.

Kitamura Machinery will be launching its Mycenter HX1000i horizontal machining centre and the MyTrunnion 5 APC machining centre at the EMO 2007.

Also on show, informs UK agent CNC Leader Technologies, will be well established Kitamura MyTrunnion 1, Mycenter HX400iF and HX630i machining centres - all re-designed for improved efficiency.

* Mycenter HX1000i - the Mycenter HX1000i horizontal machining centre (HMC) has an efficient positive 180 deg rotating pallet change system that provides convenient pallet accessibility for simplified loading and unloading of workpieces.

Workpieces can be up to 2m diameter by 1.55m high and weigh 3000kg.

It is combined with a rotary table offered as either a full B-axis with +/-2 arc/sec positional and contouring accuracy, or with 1 deg index positively positioned within +/-1 arc/sec, depending on the application.

The Mycenter HX1000i has an A/C 30kW spindle motor with a four-speed geared head that enables it to reach full power at 235 rev/min and develop a maximum torque of 1217Nm.

Capable of speeds of 8,000 rev/min, the dual contact spindle delivers exceptional machining rigidity, improved surface finish, higher cutting accuracy and extended tool life.

The new HMC has a standard 60-tool automatic tool change (ATC) system with capacity for 100, 150 and 200 tools as an option.

The ATC uses Kitamura's exclusive fixed pot ATC system whereby each tool is always returned to the same tool pot and the next tool to be used is kept ready in a 'stand-by' pot, so minimising tool change time.

Kitamura said that the ATC delivers staggering productivity gains with a tool-to-tool time of 2.5s and a chip-to-chip time of 7s.

Maximum tool size is 300mm diameter and maximum length is 650mm.

* Mytrunnion 5 APC - Kitamura will show its exceptional Mytrunnion 5 APC vertical machining centre (VMC) for the first time in Europe.

This 5-axis VMC delivers a combination of ultra high precision and ultra high-speed machining performance with the power needed for high torque cutting on components of up to 630mm diameter and 330mm high.

The Mytrunnion 5 guarantees a positional accuracy of +/-0.001mm with a repeatability of +/-0.0005mm.

This precision is owing to the use of Kitamura's exclusive standard linear scale feedback system on all axes and an induction scale system on the rotary axes.

The Mytrunnion 5 also incorporates fibre optic technology that has allowed Kitamura to achieve high-speed feedback from the scales.

This results in real time feedback for higher accuracy in part geometries and improved finishes in contouring.

At EMO the Mytrunnion 5 will feature a pallet change system to demonstrate its capability to meet the production needs of today's manufacturer.

Kitamura's four-speed geared drive dual contact 20,000 rev/min spindle is standard and enables the Mytrunnion 5 to reach full power at 788 rev/min with a maximum spindle torque of 157.4Nm.

The Dual Contact Spindle system offers the benefits of greater machining rigidity, improved surface finish, higher cutting accuracy and extended tool life.

Equipped with high speed rapids of 50m/min on the X- and Y-axis - Kitamura claims it is the fastest for a machine of box way construction.

Kitamura added that the Mytrunnion 5 is also capable of high speed cutting feed rates of 24m/min on the X-, Y- and Z-axis, the perfect combination for high speed machining applications.

* Mytrunnion 1 machining centre - another 5-axis VMC uses an upgraded Fanuc 300iMA control.

The Mytrunnion 1 has been designed for high speed 5-axis machining as well as turning components at 1,000 rev/min.

The Mytrunnion 1 is ideal for medical parts, aerospace components, and similar complex parts up to 240mmx160mm.

It will be on show with a multi-pallet system available with either seven or 20 pallets.

The Mytrunnion 1combines an optional 30,000 rev/min spindle speed with the rotary table for grinding operations.

With processing times of increasing importance, the Mytrunnion 1 has an extremely fast tool-to-tool time of 1.1s that works with a 60 position ATC as standard.

For 5-axis machining, the Mytrunnion 1 uses an A-axis tilting trunnion fitted with an integral full rotary C-axis having a rotational speed of 1,000 rev/min.

Cooled ballscrews and scales are fitted as standard to achieve and maintain the extremely high accuracy.

Not only do these attributes make the machine ideal for tight tolerance components, it also guarantees exceptional repeatability, said Kitamura.

The Mytrunnion 1 is also capable of heavy duty cutting.

This is provided by its hardened and ground box ways that have a dampening effect seven times greater than linear guide ways.

* Mycenter HX400iF and Mycenter HX630iF HMCs - Kitamura will be demonstrating the redesigned Mycenter HX400iF and Mycenter HX630iF HMCs.

Both HMCs guarantee high metal removal rates on difficult to cut materials.

The HX400iF is ideal for the production of precision parts in medium to long batch runs on mid sized parts with rigidity to comfortably machine difficult materials.

The Mycenter HX400iF design has a rigid BT40 taper spindle driven by an AC 18.5kW drive motor with a two-speed geared drive head that develops full power at 652 rev/min and maximum spindle torque of 270Nm for high metal removal rates and tough material machining.

For high speed machining, the HX 400iF is also available with a 20,000 rev/min gear driven spindle.

Like the other machines in the Mycenter range, the HX400iF has a ballscrew cooling system and the renowned Kitamura Intelligent Advanced Control (IAC) to guarantee a positional, repeatability and roundness accuracy of +/-0.002mm, +/-0.001mm and +/-0.003mm respectively.

Exceptional accuracy is combined with impressive production rates.

The twin pallet machine has an extremely quick rotary pallet change of 5s.

The Mycenter HX400iF can handle components with a diameter of 700mm diameter, up to 960mm high and weighing up to 400kg.

* Mycenter HX630i - designed for machining larger components, the Mycenter HX630i has a powerful AC 26kW spindle motor developing a torque of 380Nm and reaching full power at 652 rev/min through a geared head.

Solid box ways, twin cooled ballscrews on each axis and a rigid BT50 dual contact spindle offer exceptional productivity.

The pallet system on the HX630iF can rotate 8,000 deg/minute and index 90 deg in 0.45s with exceptional accuracy.

With full 4th axis capability as standard and 50 tool storage utilising Kitamura's exclusive fixed pot system, the HX630iF has rapid tool changes that deliver chip to chip time of 5.5s.

The HX630iF is capable of handling components up to 1000mm diameter, 1100mm high and weighing up to 1200kg per pallet.

At EMO the HX400iF and HX600iF will be shown with revised and improved chip conveyors, tooling capacities and guarding for enhanced productivity.

Kitamura supplies users with machine monitoring, programme editing and fault diagnosis remotely, full diagnostic software including machine manuals, parts lists and alarm/recovery procedures.

Engineers and managers can have the capability to access operator screens from remote PC via the internet, with messaging service possible to email or mobile phone.

* Kitamura Machinery at EMO 2007, Hannover, Germany, September 17-22, Hall 27, Stand D66.

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