Largely accurate

German machining centre manufacturer, Hermle, has introduced a new FMS comprising a heavy duty 6-axis robot, a pallet storage magazine, and one or two of the company's largest 5-axis machining centres, C 50 U.

Loads weighing up to 1,000 kg, including workpiece, fixture and pallet, may be handled automatically in the system. Applications for the FMS, designated RS 4, are likely to be found in unmanned manufacture of heavy moulds and press tools, or in the machine building industry where large, complex parts are required, says Hermle's UK agent, Gosport-based Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools.

The storage magazine is designed for pallet dimensions up to 1,000mm x 800mm x 800mm (LWH) and a sensor monitored set-up station for workpieces entering and leaving the system can be operated while machining is in progress, so no production time is lost. The station can be loaded and unloaded conveniently by crane and may be fitted with a rotating table to allow access to all sides of a component.

The robot can be equipped with an active or passive gripper system, according to customer preference and application. A central PC, linked with the Heidenhain iTNC 530 or Siemens Sinumeric 840 D CNC system on the machining centre is responsible for control, order scheduling and monitoring within the FMS.

The machine has an integral, +30°/-115° swivelling trunnion supporting a rotary table and despite its large size, is capable of single digit micron accuracy. Productivity is high owing to 6m/s² acceleration to traverse rates of 60m/minute in the X- and Y-axes and 55m/minute in Z. Specification of the SK 40/HSK A 63 spindle is 18,000rpm/39kW, while there are two 60kW versions for the larger tapers – 9,000rpm for SK 50 and 12,000rpm for HSK A 100.

The new RS 4 is positioned at the top end of an FMS range from Hermle that includes RS1, RS 2, RS 2 Combi and RS 3 for linking and automating up to three smaller machining centres. While the majority of Hermle machines are configured for 5-axis operation, 3- and 4-axis models may also be ordered.

Geo Kingsbury
www.gkholdings.com