Product category:
5-axis (3+2 axes and continuous path) machining centres
News Release from: NCMT | Subject: Makino MAG3 5-axis horizontal machining centre
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 March 2003
5-axis HMC machines aircraft structural
parts
Ideal for machining smaller aircraft structural components from aluminium and titanium, a horizontal-spindle, 5-axis machining centre offers high speed, high power spindle technology.
The Japanese machine tool manufacturer, Makino, has introduced a new, horizontal-spindle, 5-axis machining centre at the lower end of its MAG range, which comprises models extending to 20m in X and is designed specifically for manufacturing aerospace components Called MAG3, the machine has a working envelope of X: 3.0m by Y: 1.5m by Z: 1.0m, around 20 per cent smaller than that of the MAG4, allowing it to be offered at around GBP 1 million, a very competitive price in this sector
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 May 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Ideal for machining smaller structural components from aluminium and titanium, MAG3 is a marriage of the high speed, high power spindle technology of MAG machines and the established, meticulous construction of Makino's mainstream series of machining centres.
Two design features in particular characterise the new machine, both having the objective of maximising metal removal and minimising non-cutting time.
First, all axes incorporate double ballscrew drives for speed and accuracy of movement in X, Y and Z.
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Feed rate is up to 25m/min in all axes for both cutting and rapid movement.
Secondly, Makino has developed and produced its own high speed, high power spindle capable of delivering up to 60 kW in the speed range 500 - 30,000 rpm.
This compact, easy-to-maintain spindle including Makino's in-house-designed, 75 mm inner diameter bearing, sets MAG machines apart from the competition.
It is usual in this sector for OEMs to buy-in a proprietary spindle, which normally offers either high speed or high power, but rarely both.
Additionally, the Makino spindle has an HSK F63 taper, unusually large when dealing with speeds up to 30,000 rpm.
One of various cutting trials demonstrated nearly six litres of metal per minute being removed with a 35mm diameter mill taking 6.5mm deep cuts at maximum spindle speed and feed rate.
Believed to be a world first is the ability to rotate the spindle's 360 degree C-axis continuously in the same direction, it being unnecessary to counter-rotate in order to unwind hard-wired power connections as generally used on other types.
The fifth CNC axis, designated A, swivels the tool through +/-110 degrees of horizontal.
The design of the entire spindle head is clean, without any external cabling or coolant pipes.
The main power is delivered via a sophisticated slip ring system and all other services through internal galleries.
Maintenance is hence greatly simplified, a complete spindle changeover taking less the three hours.
Presentation of the workpiece vertically to the spindle, to ensure effective swarf clearance, is achieved using a pallet changer that rotates through 180 degrees around its horizontal centreline.
Indexing uses a servo drive for speed and accuracy, although hydraulics is still needed for supporting the pallets along their length.
Specification of MAG3 includes a maximum workpiece weight of three tonnes, height to work face centre of 2850mm, tool magazine capacity of 30 (optionally up to 240), maximum tool diameter and length of 75 and 200mm respectively, and a tool-to-tool change time of eight seconds. Request a free brochure from NCMT ...
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