Product category:
Horizontal machining centres (HMC)
News Release from: NCMT | Subject: A51 horizontal machining centre
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 March 2002
Entry level HMC does not skimp on
quality
A builder of precison machining centres has introduced an 'entry level' HMC at a cost set significantly below of equivalent 'mainstream' machines with no loss in quality.
While it is generally accepted that the Japanese machine tool builder, Makino, enjoys a reputation for producing high quality equipment, until now its prices have been higher than many potential users were prepared to pay So small start-up companies, mould makers, subcontractors and others on limited budgets may be interested that the price for the new entry-level A51 horizontal machining centre has been set significantly below that of the equivalent mainstream Makino product, the A55e
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Sole UK agent, NCMT, points out that this price differential has not been achieved at the expense of quality and there is little compromise on functionality.
Steps taken by Makino to engineer out cost include a 40 per cent reduction in the number of machine components, which has the additional advantage of enhanced operational reliability.
What the customer receives on delivery is a compact, half-metre-cube machine with a generous standard specification, including through-spindle coolant, chip conveyor, 60-station magazine for 40 taper tools, pallet changer and a one degree indexing table.
Use of a three-point suspension system allows the machine to be installed and levelled without special foundations.
As the A51 shares the same 400mm2 pallet size as its sister A55e machine, it is easy to incorporate into an existing line with the latter machines.
Such an arrangement would allow lower cost expansion of an FMS by using A51 machines to complete simpler tasks while the A55e models carry out cycles that demand more spindle speed and power.
The new arrival at the Makino stable is a fast and hence productive machine in every respect.
Maximum spindle speed of 12,000 rpm, delivered by a 15/11kW (optionally 22/15kW) motor, is achieved in just 1.1 seconds.
Such fast acceleration also facilitates rigid tapping at 4,000 rpm.
Rapid traverse is 50m/min in all axes.
Automatic tool change time is under one second tool-to tool, 2.3 seconds chip-to-chip.
Table indexing is similarly fast at 1.4 seconds for 90 degree rotation, or 1.7 seconds for 180 degrees.
Makino's own GI (Geometric Intelligence) control virtually eliminates servo error, allowing maximum advantage to be taken of these high speeds and feeds when rough milling, drilling and tapping.
Where higher accuracy is more important than top productivity, three further control modes may be selected. Request a free brochure from NCMT ...
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