MACHINING CENTRES INSTALLATION IN CHALLENGING TIMES
Industry & product
news in brief
was delivered the day the country was locked
down due to Covid-19. Hurco engineers did a
great job installing the machine in dif cult
circumstances, with some of their staff on
furlough. Since then, the machine has run
faultlessly during the day and we have full
con dence in taking advantage of extensive
lights-out running for nishing our moulds
through the night, which we do frequently.”
The company is a long-time Hurco user,
grabbing its rst machine in 1985. It was rst
attracted by the supplier’s Ultimax twin-screen
control tted to a KMB1x knee-type mill, on
which a program could be created
conversationally at one screen while a graphic
of the part was automatically generated on
the other.
Recalls Gibson: “Its ease of use was
perfect for a toolmaking environment, where
one-offs are the norm. Thirty- ve years on,
we now operate 10 Hurco 3-axis CNC
machining centres, due to their reliability,
good performance and competitive price. All of
them feature a similar control, although now
the software – WinMax – is Windows-based
and much updated in functionality.”
The toolroom manager particularly
highlights the patented Ultimotion feature (up
to 10,000 blocks of dynamic variable look
ahead), which automatically determines the
optimal trajectory for the cutter around the
workpiece. It keeps the programmed feed rate
consistent and increases speed when
machining around corners versus previous
non-Ultimax controls, reducing cycle times
and improving surface nish. It is better than
the smoothing features offered by CADCAM
software and improves upon CAM output by
providing better machine kinematics.
Even today, with mould tools being
considerably more complex than in the past,
the toolmaking and refurbishment specialist’s
operators still write three in 10 programs at
the control, mainly the simpler ones for
producing bolsters and plates. The remainder
are prepared off-line in Autodesk
( www.is.gd/tizolu ) CAM from customers’
CAD models.
The BX50i double-column, bridge-type
machining centre has a 1,350 by 950 by
600 mm envelope and is aimed at
producing tools weighing up to 2.5 tonnes
to even greater accuracy. It is also used
for producing other large components
subcontracted out to the rm, which
accounts for 10% of turnover.
The new 13-tonne machine represents a
step up in accuracy and performance,
compared with the other prismatic machining
equipment in the 16,000 ft2 Batley factory.
The HSK-63A spindle speed is 18,000 rpm,
up 50% on the previous maximum on site,
scales rather than encoders provide feedback
of linear axis positions and thermal
compensation measures have been
incorporated throughout the machine.
Says Gibson: “We saw the BX50i on the
Hurco stand at the last MACH 2018 show
and were impressed at its robust
construction. Since the machine was
installed, we have been holding dimensional
tolerances of better than ± 25 microns
and we expect that level of precision to be
held for the long term.
“We also nd that moulds coming off the
machine have a better surface nish that
typically needs 30% less polishing. It is a big
saving, especially on large tools that can take
up to a month to machine and then a further
week to hand nish.”
The higher spindle speed allows for the
use of smaller cutting tools, too, so fewer
features need to be sparked out, saving the
time and cost involved in transferring tools to
a die-sink EDM machine and of making
copper and graphite electrodes on the other
Hurcos, the company adds.
DMG Mori advances its green
credentials to the maximum – all
machines produced carbon-neutrally
from January 2021. www.is.gd/djAV8X
Axium Process increases supply chain
resilience, installs Doosan machinery
supported by Autodesk software.
www.is.gd/ajehuj
German-owned machine tool
manufacturer Heller, which also
operates a manufacturing facility at its
UK and Ireland subsidiary’s
headquarters in Redditch, will stage an
international, interactive, online event,
V-CON 2020, from 10-12 November.
www.is.gd/awubuy
Droop+Rein 5-axis G 110TT HR100 C
vertical gantry unit is largest machine
ever supplied to Australia.
www.is.gd/enunik
Brighton-based Dugard has made two
new appointments, adding Mike Corbett
as national sales support manager and
Chris Anson, who joins the service team.
www.is.gd/oyuren
Spain’s Soraluce’s All in One multitasking
machining centre range has
received a Chinese technical award for
advanced functions. www.is.gd/acogid
Yamazaki Mazak has unveiled a new
high accuracy simultaneous 5-axis
vertical machining centre, the Variaxis
C-600, suitable for a wide range of
sectors, including the aerospace and
automotive markets.
www.is.gd/iqucep
Available in the UK through Kyal
Machine Tools, Mitsui Seiki’s new
series of CNC vertical machining
centres, called the ‘J’ series (for
‘Jig’), is said to be ideal for the
machining of medical, optical, mould
and die, and aerospace parts.
www.is.gd/mumana
The Hurco BX50i’s HSK-63A spindle boasts
a speed of 18,000 rpm, up 50% on the
previous maximum on site; scales rather
than encoders provide feedback of linear
axis positions; and thermal compensation
measures have been incorporated
throughout the machine
www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets | November 2020 21
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