Product category:
Machining centres - all types
News Release from: Yamazaki Mazak UK | Subject: Ertical and horizontal machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 August 2005
Narrow footprint VMCs and HMCs offer
more capacity
'Ultra Narrow footprint' VMCs and HMCs that use of a polar co-ordinate axis control system allow much larger components to be machined, when compared with 'conventional' designs.
Yamazaki Mazak's UN series of vertical and horizontal machining centres will be seen in Europe for the first time at EMO Hanover, which takes place between 14 - 21 September 2005 The unique mechanical design of UN machines has created an 'Ultra Narrow' footprint, which in the case of the UN-600V vertical machining centre measures just 695mm wide by 3200mm deep
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 6 Oct 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
HMCs/VMCs offer more productivity/m2
A series of vertical and horizontal machining centres shown in Europe for the first time at EMO Hanover offer more productivity per square metre - a development based on automotive industry needs.
VMCs and HMCs controlled by one operator
Narrow vertical and horizontal machining centres result from the automotive sector seeking to increase productivity by extending the number of machines a single operator can oversee.
Amazingly, the maximum component size that can be machined is 600mm diameter by 500mm high.
This has been achieved through the use of a polar co-ordinate axis control system.
The UN-600H horizontal variant delivers the same machining capacity from a slightly wider footprint on the vertical machine, in this case the X-axis capacity is achieved by the use of two opposed X-axes.
Further reading
More VMCs and HMCs overseen by one operator
VMCs and HMCs with a smaller machine footprint extends the number of machines a single operator can oversee from a much reduced floorspace requirement - so raising productivity.
'Entry level' turning centres have driven tooling
Two 'entry level' turning centres introduced at MACH 2004 feature three-axis turning, one-hit machining and combine a small footprint with a large machining envelope.
Yamazaki to stage 'EMO Encore' for UK buyers
UK buyers and specifiers of machine tools who were unable to attend the EMO exhibition can view and assess new Mazak machine tools at Yamazaki Machinery, Worcester, January 29-February 1.
"In the case of vertical machines, using normal axes control it is impossible to make a conventional machine width any narrower than at present as the limiting factor is the X-axis unit (column or table) and the resulting X-axis movement," says Yamazaki Mazak UK sales director Tony Saunders.
"Mazak has overcome this by replacing the conventional X-axis with a C-axis and using the rotation of that axis in combination with the Y-axis to create a resulting X-axis movement".
"For programming we use standard X-Y co-ordinates while the Mazatrol control converts these to polar co-ordinates to position the machine".
"In the case of the horizontal machine two X-axes, one on the spindle and the other on the table moving in opposition, are controlled relative to each other and replace the single conventional X-axis mechanism." An added benefit of using two X-axes on the UN-600H is that to create a feed movement both axes are travelling in the opposite direction, effectively increasing the feedrate available by 100%.
The resulting compact design equates to a floorspace saving of 57% for the UN-600V and 38% for the UN-600H when compared to conventional machining centres with the same capacity.
In fact, a typical cell consisting of two horizontal and two vertical machining centres of conventional design would require 48m2 of floorspace.
Using the UN series of machines these could be replaced with three verticals and one horizontal with a floorspace requirement of 14.7m2 - a reduction of 70%.
At the forefront of this demand are customers in the automotive industry who are looking to increase productivity through increasing the number of machines a single operator can oversee.
However, the machines also offer opportunities for small to medium sized companies to expand without the expense of relocating.
Ideally suited to medium- to high-volume components such as aluminium die cast automotive parts, transmission casings and IT components, the UN-series provides higher productivity per m2 while at the same time reducing the burden upon operators due to the ergonomic design of the load/unload area and the compact area of operation.
In designing the UN series of machines Yamazaki Mazak was conscious that it could not compromise on the performance that customers have come to expect from the world's largest manufacturer of CNC metalcutting equipment.
Therefore, it developed a number of innovative features that include a high-speed spindle capable of accelerating to its maximum 20,000 rev/min in 0.55s and of synchronised tapping at up to 8000 rev/min.
The machines also feature a 'temperature tuned' system that provides ballscrew core cooling to all axes and to the integral spindle motor.
This is the first time such a feature has been seen on a 30 taper machine.
In fact, this is the first machining centre from Yamazaki Mazak to feature a 30 taper on the spindle.
Productivity is further boosted by 60m/min rapid traverse in all linear axes, with the exception of the X-axis on the horizontal machine, which is 120m/min.
Complementing this are acceleration rates between 1.5 and 2G across the X, Y and Z axes.
"While the demand for ultra narrow machines originated in Japan, where floorspace remains at a premium, we are increasingly aware that our European customers need to deliver higher productivity from existing manufacturing facilities," says Saunders". Request a free brochure from Yamazaki Mazak UK ...
""The UN series will enable them to achieve this in the knowledge that they will retain the high quality that they have become accustomed to as customers of Yamazaki Mazak.".
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