Entry level introduction to 5-axis

Managing director Tim Whitehouse commented that neither performance nor longevity has been compromised in the manufacture of the UQ400, despite the machine's competitive price, as Wele maintains a high level of build quality as befits a company that is part owned by Japanese machine tool producer, Toyoda.

The machine has an installed weight of 6.5 tonnes and occupies a compact footprint of 2.95 x 2.35m. Capable of interpolating four of the five axes simultaneously, it is intended for five-face machining of workpieces weighing up to 200kg with fixture. A Fanuc 0iMF control allows an easy gateway into 5-axis operation for users more familiar with this CNC system than others on the market.

The working envelope is defined by 400 x 650 x 485mm ballscrew-driven travels in X, Y and Z together with two rotary, hydraulically clamped axes, which are provided by a 360° C-axis table and a +30/-120° A-axis swivelling trunnion.

The BT40 direct-drive spindle, served with cutters exchanged from a 24-station tool magazine, offers 11kW of continuous power (15kW for 30 minutes) and speeds up to 12,000rpm, or optionally 15,000 or 20,000rpm (HSK-A63). High production output is assured by a cutting feed rate of 10m/minute and rapids of 36m/minute in X, 24m/minute in Y and 10m/minute in Z.

Standard equipment includes chip wash-down for the table and twin augers in the Y-axis plus one in the X-axis to evacuate the swarf, while bed wash-down and different styles of chip conveyor are available.

So also are an interface on the table for a hydraulic fixture, 32- or 40-pocket chain-type tool magazine, through-spindle coolant, roller bearing guideways, linear encoder position feedback, and automatic tool length and workpiece measuring using either Blum or Renishaw sensors. Additionally, a Mitsubishi M830 control can be specified instead of Fanuc.

Whitehouse Machine Tools has a Wele UQ400 vertical machining centre in stock for inspection and cutting trials at its Kenilworth showroom and technical centre.

Whitehouse Machine Tools www.wmtcnc.com