TURNKEY & AUTOMATION EXPANDING TO GROW
the year, while it also saw the further
development and launch of SYNERGi
automated manufacturing cells.
Mills has a number of “big picture” aims
and objectives in 2021, says Dale. These
include increasing turnkey business and
sales of SYNERGi systems and multi-tasking/
multi-axis machine tools, and diversifying
cobot sales into other sectors and industries.
He explains it is looking to strengthen
relationships and partnerships with advanced
technology research centres and to develop
Training Academy’s online training courses.
Mills has launched its own SYNERGi
automated manufacturing cells into the
marketplace
There will also be a focus on creating
market-led, customer focused initiatives that
endorse and substantiate the rm’s corporate
‘Mills CNC: Like No-one Else’ positioning.
In addition to major automation-led
initiatives, Mills will also be introducing a
number of new Doosan machine tools into the
market this year.
The rst of these is a new range of Lynx
2600 lathes with Y-axis and sub-spindle
capabilities, and a new range of large-capacity
SMX mill-turn machines: the SMX 5100L
series.
Taking the complexity out of automation
Mills CNC’s new Turnkey & Automation Centre will enable the
company to present and demonstrate its own SYNERGi automated
manufacturing cells that it launched last year.
The SYNERGi cells comprise three different ‘types’ based on
capacity and complexity - SYNERGi Premier, Classic and Sprint and
the centre provides a dedicated resource and environment for Mills’
industrial and collaborative robot and cobot business.
Mills says the SYNERGi Premier, SYNERGi Classic
and SYNERGi Sprint systems “take the complexity
out of automation” and the systems are exible
and powerful but, “unlike many automation
solutions on the market, are also simple to
understand, program and operate”.
SYNERGi systems can be integrated with
Doosan lathes, machining centres and millturn
machines – improving their productivity and
ef ciency. All systems are powered by Mills’ own
proprietary and sophisticated SYNERGi software.
developed its own
SYNERGi software
platform in response
to the needs of
SYNERGi ‘standard’ automated manufacturing cells
“Mills CNC
customers”
(Premier, Classic and Sprint) have a number of differences mainly
concerning their size ( oor space) and capacities (different size and
con guration of their work loading and unloading stations).
All can be integrated with Doosan lathes, machining centres and
mill-turn machines.
SYNERGi Premier: the largest system, features a ve two-way
drawer system (workpiece load/unload and storage system).
Also included is a Fanuc 6-axis robot, an inspection and
parts’ ejector conveyor, an air blast end-effector, locating plates,
pneumatic 2- or 3- jaw grippers, integrated SICK safety systems,
industrial robot fencing and an (optional) part turnover station.
The system, as in all SYNERGi cells, features an HMI with 17”
touchscreen, powered by SYNERGi software.
SYNERGi Classic: the mid-range system features a loading
pattern (tray) - 1400mm x 1000mm. The system used grid plates to
ensure exact part location and typical part sizes range from 20mm
to 400mm in size.
SYNERGi Classic systems feature a 6-axis industrial robot, a
Dale believes that in 2021 demand for high
quality competitively priced machine tools will
remain constant (pre-pandemic levels).
“Expectation is that demand for multi-tasking
and multi-axis machines with integrated
automation will rise as sectors ‘bounce’ back
(aerospace), demand for sophisticated and
large-capacity machine to increase: (nuclear
energy, wind power) and increase in demand
for industrial and collaborative robot systems
and solutions - from all sectors.”
loading/unloading system, a 17” touchscreen HMI, locating plates,
pneumatic 2- or 3- jaw grippers, integrated SICK safety systems and
industrial fencing.
SYNERGi Sprint: SYNERGi Sprint cells are more compact and
have smaller footprint than Premier and Classic cells and are ideal
for the automated manufacture/processing of smaller parts.
SYNERGi Sprint cells have a loading pattern (tray) system
(900mm x 900mm) that uses grid plates for exact part
positioning and location. Recommended maximum
weight per gripper is 10kg.
SYNERGi Sprint systems feature a 6-axis
industrial robot, a loading/unloading tray system, a
17” touchscreen human machine interface (HMI),
locating plates, pneumatic 2- or 3- jaw grippers,
integrated SICK safety systems and industrial
fencing, an interface for Heidenhain, Fanuc and
Siemens control systems and a part turnover station.
All SYNERGi systems (standard and customised)
are designed to help manufacturers improve their productivity
and operational ef ciencies: helping them to embrace and take
advantage of unattended lights-out production and exploiting the
productivity potential of their Doosan machine tool(s).
SYNERGi software is an intuitive platform designed to take
the complexity out of automating machine tools. Accessed and
controlled via a touchscreen HMI, simplicity and user-friendliness
are at the heart of the software (think mobile smart phone).
By completing prompted information elds, the system is ready
to run in a matter of minutes with no robot experience necessary.
Mills CNC designed and developed its own SYNERGi software
platform in response to the needs and requirements of customers.
A barrier to investing in automation the company says from the
perspective of its customers, is the perceived dif culty in mastering,
integrating and synchronising the machine tool with the/a robot.
Mills adds that the objective was to ensure that it designed a
software system that was “easy for a machinist to use” without
them having any previous robotics’ knowledge or experience of
using the technology.
16 February 2021 | www.machinery.co.uk | MachineryMagazine | @MachineryTweets
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