July 2008 Edition

IMTS readers’ choice

machining centers • turning

Tooling & Production has invited IMTS 2008 exhibitors to share their latest innovations with readers before the doors of Chicago’s McCormick Place open in September. This month, T&P focuses on machining and turning center products.

Next month, T&P will announce the Readers’ Choice winners in our August pre-show issue.

GS-Series addresses complex parts

Hardinge Inc. is expanding its line of turning centers with the GS 200 MSY and GS 250 MSY Performance multitasking turning centers. The GS-Series expands levels of functionality to address complex parts resulting in increased throughput and reduced cycle time in a single setup.

The multi-axis machines include dual wound spindle motors featuring 30hp (22kW) on the main spindle and 20hp (15kW) on the sub spindle, 10hp (7.5kW) live tooling with C-axis, Y-axis, and spindle orient as standard equipment for complex multitasking operations.

Both the main and sub spindles feature wraparound high torque motors designed for optimum thermal stability.

Hardinge, Inc., Booth A-8032

VMC for aerospace industry has full-range cutting

Developed for the aerospace industry, the Mighty USA Viper Pro-4210TS is a three-spindle, full-range cutting, bridge type vertical machining center.

The VMC is capable of cutting three identical aerospace structural parts simultaneously to save cycle time, operation overhead, and increase productivity. Cutting materials ranging from aluminum and tool steel to titanium and Inconel can be handled.

Tripling production can be completed in each single operation, saving floor space with only one machine needed instead of three.

Mighty USA, Booth A-8058

Massive meets modular in boring mill

The FT 3500 HBM, from MAG Giddings & Lewis, combines a range of part capacities with design flexibility. Customers can configure an HBM specifically to their needs for maximizing productivity. Two available platforms (FT and ram-style FTR) can be fitted with choice of travels, headstocks, spindle diameters and spindle power, controls, coolant systems, workholding, and tool magazines.

The FT 3500 features 10m (32.8ft) of X travel and 3.6m (11.8ft) of Y travel, but standardized modules allow HBMs to be configured with travels from 4 to 16m (13.1 x 52.5ft) and Y axis headstock travel to 5m (16.4ft). MAG Giddings & Lewis, Booth A-8218

New Swiss feature is 32mm capacity

Tsugami’s newest Swiss-turn, the SS32 model, is designed for shorter cycle times and premium performance, offering new 32mm Swiss capabilities. The machine’s standard main spindle configuration includes seven turning tools, five cross rotary tools, and five ID tools.

The standard sub-spindle setup includes three ID stations and three face drills and can include up to two cross rotary drills. Thread whirling, polygon turning, and angular face drilling operations are possible with an adjustable face tool attachment.

The Tsugami SS-32 can handle cross and face milling, drilling, and tapping, as well as angular drilling, thread whirling and polygon turning.

 Tsugami Booth A-8701

Turning center has two upper turrets

Equipped with two spindles and three turrets, Miyano’s ABX Super Turning Centers are capable of processing complex parts in a single setup.

The ABX-51TH3 has upper two turrets on the left and right side, both with Y-axis controls. A lower turret, capable of working on both the left and right spindles, makes a total of 36 tools (with all tool stations able to utilize live tools) available to perform complex front and back operations simultaneously.

Miyano Machinery USA Booth A-8717

G350 can handle multiple tasks

The G350 horizontal machining center, from GROB Systems Inc., is capable of production using up to five axes, providing the ability to handle several jobs at once. The G350 features accurate output, modular, cost-effective design, and offers flexibility for high-volume cell and system tasks.

The machining center’s Z-axis is stable with tool rigidity due to a slide-mounted spindle module. The spindle/slide arrangement is one of several high-strength construction elements. The spindle’s body is mounted on a slide that supplies the entire spindle drive module for the Z-axis movement; the spindle moves in the X-axis by means of a second slide instrument.

GROB Systems, Inc. Booth A-8163

Newest model in truing and dressing

Rush Machinery’s Model FC-250W is designed for truing and dressing of flats, angles, and radii on diamond and CBN single wheels and multiple wheel packs. The FC-250W allows for increased efficiency and accuracy by profiling, modifying profiles and truing wheels properly, offline of the production grinding machinery.

The one-piece cast iron base provides rigidity and minimizes vibration. Standard features include ExVision, a computer-driven vision system with a software program designed for the FC-250W and its applications, an automatic power zoom, and a two-axis DRO for measurement.

Rush Machinery, Booth B-7221

Milling machine cuts through aluminum

Datron Electronic’s M10 three-axis milling system offers performance cutting with small tools, high spindle speeds, and minimum current consumption. Designed for machining in non-ferrous materials such as aluminum, the M10 offers up to 40,000 rpm with a 3.0 kW high frequency spindle. This allows for high chip volumes at low cutting forces.

The toolchanger holds 11 small mills and drills with diameters ranging from .002" to .375" for applications in aerospace, medical, and electronics. The working table, made of granite, ensures that the work spindle traverses with low vibrations, even at high accelerations.

Datron Electronics Booth D-6564

Five-axis machine offers 3D contours

The RB-200F Series Five-Axis Bridge Type Machining Center from SNK America offers machining of multiple angles and 3D contours.

With large spindle head and ram assemblies, as well as cast iron, cast steel and steel weldment construction, SNK’s RB-F Series offers rigid operation. The RB-F spindle provides ample power for machining of monolithic aerospace parts.

Suited for complex die and mold applications, the five-axis control of the RB-F Series offers precision multi-angle milling and drilling, contour milling and flat machining. General-purpose applications include aluminum MRI rotor castings, stainless steel machinery parts, crankcase machining and wood/plastic patterns.

SNK America, Inc., Booth A-8432

Vertical CNC system gives honing choices

Sunnen’s new SV-310 vertical CNC honing system combines multi-spindle machine configurations with wide tooling choices and 762mm/30" stroke for bore sizing of small and medium-sized gas/diesel engine blocks, large gears, air compressors, aerospace parts, refrigeration compressors, and similar small or large multi-bore parts.

Designed for automated processing of mid- to high-part volumes, the SV-310 features full-height access doors and enclosure preconfigured for use with robotic part loading systems, while the CNC control includes a built-in automation interface.

A 20-amp power supply and multiple E-stop contacts add versatility and allow convenient automation control. Setup is simplified with a three-axis hand wheel for fine-tuning X-axis position, vertical stroke, and tool feed.

Sunnen, Booth B-7200