Product category:
Machining centres - all types
News Release from: Yamazaki Mazak UK | Subject: UN series horizontal/vertical machining centres
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 October 2005
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.
Yamazaki Mazak's UN series of vertical and horizontal machining centres were seen in Europe for the first time at EMO Hanover This range of machines is the result of a demand from end-users, particularly within the automotive sector, who are looking to increase productivity by extending the number of machines a single operator can oversee
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 22 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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However, the machines also offer opportunities for small to medium sized companies to expand without incurring the expense of relocating.
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 695 mm wide by 3200 mm deep.
Amazingly, the maximum component size that can be machined is 600mm diameter by 500mm high.
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This is 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 than the vertical machine; in this case the X-axis capacity is achieved by the use of two opposed X axes.
With vertical machines, using normal axes control, it is impossible to make a conventional machine width any narrower than at present.
The limiting factor is the X-axis unit (column or table) and the resulting X-axis movement.
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.
The compact design of the UN series 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%.
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.
Programming is achieved by using standard X-Y co-ordinates with the Mazatrol control converting 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 with both axes travelling in the opposite direction the potential feedrate is effectively doubled.
In designing the UN series of machines Yamazaki Mazak was aware 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 0.55 seconds 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 120 m/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, Yamazaki Mazak is increasingly aware that European customers need to deliver higher productivity from existing manufacturing facilities.
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. Request a free brochure from Yamazaki Mazak UK ...
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