Product category:
Machining centres - all types
News Release from: Yamazaki Mazak UK | Subject: Mazak Variaxis 500, 5 face machining centre
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 April 2002
Five face MC speeds up cylinder head
manufacture
A 5-face machining centre is proving particularly suited to a subcontractor's manufacture of prototype automotive cylinder heads or components with compound angles.
Coventry based Kencom Limited is reaping the benefits of its investment in a Mazak Variaxis 500, 5 face machining centre which is proving particularly suited to the organisation's manufacture of motor industry prototype and short run production components The machine tool - the first Variaxis 500 to go into production in the UK - offers the ability for multiple face machining in a single set up, a feature of particular benefit to Kencom when machining prototype cylinder heads or components with compound angles
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"After we had attended a demonstration at Mazak's Worcester headquarters we just knew we had to have the machine," explained Kencom's managing director Adrian Vice.
"The nature of our work is very demanding, both in terms of complexity and precision as well as the very short turn-around times.
If components need alteration or modification, the Mazatrol Fusion controller on the machine is very easy to re-programme and the multi-function, single set up on the Variaxis has significantly reduced machining times." As well as specialising in prototype manufacture, Kencom is also engaged in short run production part manufacture.
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"For these components repeatability is all important," explained production director Bob Williams.
"The Variaxis maintains very tight tolerances; you can run it all day long and there is not the slightest hint of variance." For cylinder head prototype work Kencom works very closely with its foundry customers - most frequently Bridgnorth based Grainger and Worrall.
Prior to machining on the Variaxis, the aluminium castings are flatted with a primary location face before the multi-face machining process takes over.
510mm with the Z axis 460mm.
The 40 spindle has a maximum speed of 12,000 rev/min through a 22kW motor and the rapid traverse rate on the X,Y,Z axes is 50m/min.
"The only reservation we had about moving into 5-axis machining were concerns that the 5-axis controller would be very complex," added Vice.
"Our previous experience had always been with ISO controllers so the Mazatrol was a new - but very simple - learning experience.
It has proved to be very powerful and easy to use and coupled with the versatility of the machine tool, has certainly contributed to moving Kencom into new areas by raising our profile and demonstrating our abilities to work on highly complex projects." As part of its investment, Kencom also purchased Mazak CAMWARE software.
This provides the ability to make Mazatrol programmes and 3D-tool path simulation including collision check and CAD data import functions carried out off-line.
Automatically generated workpiece machining cycle time and the tool requirement list are utilised for scheduling and tool management modules. Request a free brochure from Yamazaki Mazak UK ...
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