What's new at AMB

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Production Engineering Solutions takes a look at some of the companies exhibiting at this year's European machine tool fair held in Stuttgart.

 

Chucks and lathes

600 UK in conjunction with its distributor, Haberstroh GmbH & Co. KG, will demonstrate leading examples of Colchester and Harrison manual and CNC lathes together with new workholding products from Pratt Burnerd International at AMB 2016.

On show will be the all-new 2016 model of the Colchester Triumph centre lathe, the new 3-axis Harrison Alpha XC CNC combination lathe, plus an extensive range of new chucking solutions from Pratt Burnerd International.

The Colchester Triumph, arguably the world’s bestselling toolroom centre lathe, has been redesigned to give operators even better performance than ever before, incorporating fully integrated independent DRO and moveable chip guarding for enhanced swarf removal, all allied to its existing cutting performance.

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The new 3-axis Harrison Alpha XC CNC combination lathe adds full C-axis operation to the established Alpha manual/CNC lathe range. Operators can now programme turning, milling, drilling and tapping at the machine in just a few simple steps using the proven and operator friendly Alpha control.

Pratt Burnerd International will be exhibiting heavy-duty innovative manual chucks, application driven variations of the new Gripfast Combination Power Chuck as well as introducing the all new Gripsafe chuck force measurement gripmeter.

The New Gripsafe allows operators to effortlessly measure and record lathe chuck gripping forces and is ideal for large workshops with multiple machines – ensuring that equipment is meeting the necessary health and safety standards at all times.

600 UK (Haberstroh) www.600uk.com
Hall 6, Stand 6E10

 

New products at AMB

Haas Automation, will use the upcoming AMB 2016 exhibition in Stuttgart to present an ‘advance sight’ of a new Y-axis CNC turning centre, as well as a prototype of a newly developed compact mill for micro-machining, and two new CNC rotary tables.

From its stand, Haas will showcase its new ST-15Y big bore, small footprint CNC turning centre. The ST-15Y provides 102mm of Y-axis travel (±51mm from the centreline) for off-centre milling, drilling and tapping, and comes as standard with 6,000rpm high torque live tooling and a full C-axis for versatile 4-axis capability. The machine, which will be available in Europe in Q4, offers 63.5mm bar capacity and a maximum cutting capacity of 356mm x 406mm, with a swing of 406mm over the cross slide.

With industry witnessing a marked trend for micro-machining applications, Haas will also shine the spotlight on a prototype of its new CM-1 compact mill, which is designed as a high accuracy solution for high volume production and prototyping of small, high precision 2D and 3D parts such as those found in the communications, medical and dental industries.

The CM-1 features 300mm x 254mm x 300mm travels, a 508mm x 254mm T-slot table, a 30,000 rpm ISO20 taper spindle and a 20 pocket automatic tool changer. Maximum cutting feeds are 12.7m/minute with rapids to 19.2m/minute for reduced cycle times.

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The CM-1 at AMB 2016 will be fitted with the new Haas TRT70 ultra-compact, dual-axis tilting/rotary table that provides ±120° of tilt and 360° of rotation to position parts at almost any angle for 5-axis machining. The TRT70 provides 81.3Nm of torque on the tilt axis and 54.2Nm on the rotary axis for aggressive machining.

Furthermore, indexing speeds of 410°/second on the tilt axis and 620°/second on the rotary axis ensure short cycle times. The precision ground 70mm platter features multiple bolt patterns and a precision through bore for versatile fixturing, and will swing parts up to 102mm diameter. A separate TRT70 will also be displayed in the rotaries section of the stand.

Another new rotary on display at AMB will be the Haas TR200Y, a dual-axis trunnion rotary table that puts 5-axis capabilities well within reach of the average job shop. The TR200Y is designed to mount in the Y direction (front to back on the table) of a mid-size VMC. At less than 686mm wide and only 508mm deep, it fits easily on one end of the machine’s table, leaving the remaining space free for additional fixtures or vices. The TR200Y has a 200mm T-slot platter, and will swing parts up to 206mm diameter.

Also at the show will be a cross-section CNC machines from the existing Haas portfolio, including a UMC-750SS Super Speed 5-axis universal machining centre, a VF-2SS Super Speed vertical machining centre, a VF-3YT/50 vertical machining centre with 50 taper spindle, a VM-2 Vertical Mould Making machine, and a DM-2 drill/mill centre.

All new Haas vertical machining centres (including the CM-1) come with the Haas Next Generation Control (NGC): a fast, smart, smooth and aesthetically pleasing control that is reported to be simple to use. Customers who invest in a new Haas VMC get simple, intuitive navigation, more memory to store more programs, DWO (Dynamic Work Offset) and TCPC (Tool Center Point Control) - to simplify 4- and 5-axis machining, a new VPS (Visual Programming System) to generate G-code programs, and optional Wi-Fi capability for more convenience. Easy, mobile machine monitoring is another option available in the near future.

For AMB visitors seeking machines capable of performing high quality, cost-effective CNC turning operations, an ST-35 lathe and an ST-20SSY Super Speed CNC lathe with Y-axis will be on display – the latter will feature a Haas bar feeder.

Haas www.haas.co.uk
Hall: 9, Stand C11

 

Double debuts

AMB will see the European debuts of two major new product ranges from Hardinge, both of which feature significant design and manufacturing innovations.

The new developments are the Talent P high performance turning centres and the Bridgeport XT travelling beam 5-axis and five face vertical machining centres.

Talent series machines currently offer two structures (for short and standard lengths) built on a robust one piece cast iron base with heavy-duty roller linear guideways and ballscrews. As standard the machines are supplied with ANSI configured collet ready spindles available in a choice of 42 or 51mm capacities. There is also a collet ready sub-spindle with a 42mm through hole capacity.

Other standard features of Talent machines include through tool and headwall air/coolant for both main interfaces and a chip conveyor and bar feed interface. The standard controls are Fanuc OiTF and Siemens 828D.

The Bridgeport XT is the first milling product realised through global engineering and fully complies with the latest ISO Standard 16090 Pt.1 with Functional Safety and the design adopts a travelling beam structure resulting in excellent geometric accuracy. This design incorporates the three linear axes with the cutting tool combined with the rotary and tilt axis table supporting the workpiece.

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The innovative travelling beam design represents the first of a new generation of 5 axis machining centres from Hardinge. A large capacity 630mm diameter trunnion table with 350kg capacity coupled with 900mm swing diameter extends the range of Bridgeport 5-axis solutions. The design and use of twin drive tilt axis maximises the drive stiffness resulting in high precision.

Thermal distortion effects are minimised by chilled spindles, cooling of ball nuts and end bearings in all linear axis optimising machining accuracy. Heidenhain TNC640FS and Siemens 840Dsl SI controls with 19-inch operator screens provide highly optimised 5-axis motion, and for five face operation both Heidenhain TNC620 and Siemens 828D are incorporated.

On the new introductions, John McTernan, managing director, European sales & marketing for Hardinge comments: “These are genuinely ground breaking machines which exemplify our commitment to producing the highest quality machines for worldwide markets which are in the tradition of Hardinge and Bridgeport.

“Hardinge has assembled a global design team based in the USA, the UK and Taiwan which has addressed many fundamental aspects of design criteria to create these new machine ranges. The result will be families of machines making use of the economies of scale by standardising elements of the construction to create highly competent performance alongside competitive pricing.”

After AMB both machines will be fully operational at the Engineering Technology Group’s Southam, Warwickshire-based Permanent Trade Show.

Hardinge (ETG) www.engtechgroup.com
Hall 8, Stand D16

 

Sawing under the spotlight

At AMB 2016 in Stuttgart, metal sawing and storage equipment manufacturer Kasto will launch a new, high performance bandsawing machine, called KASTOwin pro AC 5.6, optimised for use with either a bimetal or a tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) blade. Cutting trials on the stand will demonstrate the short process times achievable.

The company will also present its full range of innovative products for sawing and storing bar stock and sheet. A particular message on the company’s stands will be ecologically friendly storage solutions with energy recovery. Benefits of the technology will be demonstrated on a KASTOunitower storage system.

Surplus energy from braking and lowering of a load is converted into electricity and stored temporarily for subsequent use, for example when moving and lifting the picking crane. It not only reduces energy costs but also improves the quality of the electricity supply because power is drawn more evenly. It may also be possible to downsize the kVA rating of the three phase transformer, lowering the investment cost.

Established equipment on display will include KASTOspeed high performance, automatic circular sawing machines – designed for cost-effective, high volume production and are renowned for reliability and accurate cutting during continuous operation. Depending on the properties of the material being cut, high speed steel or carbide saw blades can be used.

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The saws may be integrated into an end-to-end material flow system by a KASTOsort robotic interface. Robots remove the cut parts automatically and carry out other tasks such as deburring, marking, sorting and stacking.

A vertical bandsaw will be on display, called KASTOvertical, aimed at companies producing smaller moulds and tools as well as stockholders specialising in supplying blocks and plate up to 1,060mm long x 680mm x by 600mm high.

Unlike other horizontally acting block and plate saws in the company’s range which have a stationary table and moving saw head for cutting lengths up to 13m, the machine has a stationary saw head and two moving tables. They shuttle on four backlash-free linear guides in and out of the working area at 3m/minute in rapid motion, allowing the operator to clamp and unclamp material safely, away from the point of cutting.

The KASTOwin bandsaw range provides a flexible, universal solution for batch and production sawing of solids, tubes and sections. The automatic machines feature a comprehensive range of standard equipment and offer excellent value for money. The range consists of five machines with maximum capacities from 330 to 1,060mm, suitable for use in areas such as mechanical engineering, toolmaking, steel stockholding, and the automotive and aerospace sectors.

A comprehensive range of standard equipment makes the saws particularly efficient. With their inherent versatility, they offer standardised solutions for a wide range of users. The KASTOwin has recently become available with a moveable material support table for supporting heavy workpieces and in a special, upstroking version for machining tubular material.

Kasto www.kasto.com
Hall 6, Stands B11 and B12

 

Technology by the dozen

Yamazaki Mazak is taking 12 machines to AMB 2016 in Stuttgart, exhibiting the full breath of its machine range and new Smooth Technology – reported by Mazak to be the world’s fastest CNC.

The Mazak stand will be themed ‘It’s all about you’ in recognition of the company’s continued focus on developing machines which solve specific machining challenges faced by its customers. The stand will showcase horizontal and vertical machining centres, 5-axis machines, turning centres, a new machine from its entry-level range and, for the first time at a German show, all three variants of the company’s new Smooth Technology, namely SmoothX, SmoothG and SmoothC control.

The highlight of the Mazak showcase is likely to be the new Integrex i-400 AM, a hybrid machine which combines additive manufacturing with multi-tasking capability. The i-400 AM integrates Direct Energy Deposition additive manufacturing technology into a 5-axis multi-tasking machine to offer machine users hybrid technology and subtractive manufacturing in one platform.

The i-400 AM makes use of a built-in 1kW fibre laser to melt metallic powder, which is then applied layer by layer via interchangeable cladding heads. The heads are stored in the machine’s standard 36 tool magazine and enable the automatic change from additive to subtractive tooling, optimising process cycle time.

Horizontal machining centres will be represented by the compact HCN 5000/50, a new 50 taper machine with a 500mm square pallet featuring agile performance characteristics, including a 10,000rpm/ 37kW high performance spindle; rapid traverse rates of 60m/minute in the X-, Y- and Z-axes; and a chip to chip change time of only 3.5 seconds. The 50 taper spindle provides a highly rigid interface for mounting large tools, up to 320mm diameter, enabling a high productivity solution for machining a range of components for automotive, agriculture, construction and the cutting of cast materials.

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The HCN 5000/50 is also available in a single pallet and A-axis table configuration with integrated hydraulic services, proving a well-designed solution for complex fixturing. The machine on display at AMB 2016 is equipped with the new SmoothG CNC and an 80 tool hive.

Also on the stand will be the VTC-800/30SLR, a new addition to the successful European designed and manufactured VTC800 vertical travelling column machine series, which is available in both 40 and 50 taper versions. The 800/30SLR incorporates a 1,000mm diameter rotary table capable of carrying a 2,200kg load, which makes it ideal for machining large components, along with a centre partition that enables the set-up and machining of a different component on the right side of the normal table.

The specific machine at AMB 2016 is equipped with a Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl control for those machine users that have standardised on Siemens control in their operations. The package includes CNC, Mazak spindle with fully integrated Siemens motor and Sinumerik drives and servo motors.

Mazak will also exhibit its Multiplex 6200-II Y turning centre, which is ideally suited to high volume applications, such as the automotive sector. It combines two NC turning centres with milling capacity and is capable of performing continuous and simultaneous machining by both spindles, including automatic workpiece transfer from one spindle to the other.

Entry-level machines remain a vitally important part of the Mazak range and AMB 2016 will showcase the new QT Compact. The Compact is a high specification, entry-level model with Mazak’s integrated spindle technology for the main spindle and Tool Eye as standard – which together offer improved performance and accuracy.

The QT comes equipped with a Mazak manufactured driven tool turret and an eight-inch chuck. It is capable of a maximum speed of 5,000rpm and a peak torque of 167Nm. The machine is equipped with SmoothC control, incorporating state of the art motion control technology.

Yamazaki Mazak UK www.mazakeu.co.uk
Hall 5, Stands D11, D12, R P-05

 

Industry 4.0 focus

Automated machine loading and the trend toward Industry 4.0 are the central topics of AMB 2016, according to Dr Markus Klaiber, CTO of clamping and gripping specialist Schunk.

“Modern machining centre concepts must take three factors into account: the shortest possible cycle times, maximum system availability and the ability to respond very flexibly to product modifications and changes in demand,” emphasises the production expert, who sees a need for action primarily with SMEs.

Manufacturers that use machining technology face the challenge of having to produce the largest possible parts spectrum with the smallest possible number of operations and minimal set-up times. At the forthcoming AMB exhibition, Schunk will be discussing its product lines and expertise in this field.

At AMB, Schunk will present an advanced line of system components for automated loading of machining centres. This will comprise numerous low maintenance clamping devices and gripping systems that ensure a stable production process when the workpiece is changed.

The range of application extends from the production of large series to efficient loading in batch size one production. Highlights will include the Tandem-plus, the Rota THW-plus and Rota NCX power chucks, the compact pallet-loading and clamping tower solutions of the Vero-S series, the multi-functional Kontec KSC centric clamping device, the Pronto quick-change jaw system and the PGN-plus and PGN-plus electric grippers – claimed to be the world’s first grippers with permanent lubrication in the multi-tooth guidance.

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To increase process reliability and efficiency in the machining process, Schunk is also expanding the high performance, vibration damping hydraulic expansion holders of the Tendo E compact and Tendo Aviation series. These holders guarantee high clamping forces and feature mechanical pull-out protection, which is required for example in the aviation and aeronautics sectors.

Schunk sees Industry 4.0 less as a short-term trend than as a logical consequence of a development that has been going on for decades: “The production systems of tomorrow will feature excellent networking capabilities,” Dr Klaiber comments. “With the help of clamping devices and gripping technology, these systems will be able to constantly monitor their own status and that of their environment.”

Looking to the future and describing the biggest challenge of machine construction he says: “Industry 4.0 will put us a big step ahead, as soon as automated, autonomous systems can remedy their own faults.”

He believes Schunk components will play an important part in this connection: “Intelligent grippers will give us the opportunity to detect errors on the workpiece and therefore optimise the production process in coordination with the higher level control technology and clamping devices in real time,” he explains. “This should enable highly efficient automated production even of very small batch sizes in the future.”

Schunk www.gb.schunk.com
Hall 1, Stand 1G12.

Bunch of fives

Five Vero Software brands are to be represented at the forthcoming AMB exhibition in Stuttgart.

Vero, part of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, and recently confirmed by CIMdata as being the world’s number one CAM-focused company, has its own 56m² booth at the show, demonstrating Edgecam, WorkNC and PartXplore.

Two Vero resellers will also be highlighting further brands. Mecadat is featuring Visi, with 3D Concepts showing Surfcam. In addition, 3D Concepts has expanded its product range and closed an agreement to be an official Edgecam reseller.

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Vero’s German marketing manager, Michel Reuter, says it is the first time the company has exhibited at AMB as Vero Software GmbH: “Previously, resellers attended under their own names or with the brand name itself, but the Group name of Vero is relatively new to the German speaking markets (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). This year’s show is particularly important for us to feature Vero as the global group with a portfolio of many different brands.”

All three booths can be found in Hall 4: Vero, with WorkNC, Edgecam and PartXplore, on C-20; Mecadat AG with Visi on B-36; and 3D Concepts, showing Surfcam and Edgecam, on C-58. In addition, m&h inprocess, which is also part of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, will be featuring a WorkNC workstation to show Hexagon’s process chain of ‘sensing-thinking-acting’.

Visitors to the booths will be able to see demonstrations of Edgecam 2016 R2, WorkNC V24 and 2016, PartXplore 2016 R1, Visi 2016 R1 and Surfcam 2016 R2. Items machined by the different brands will also be on display.

Vero Software www.verosoftware.com
Hall 4, Stands C-20, B-36, C-58

 

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