Agile 5-axis machining range

“The Axile G8 brings to the UK market a new dimension of high-end, high-speed, 5-axis machining at competitive prices,” says Ward CNC managing director Simon Whitworth.

“Our customers now have access to a machine with a proven track record in industry sectors that include aerospace – where it is efficiently and effectively machining turbine blades and other complex workpieces, for example. Crucially, the machine’s price-competitiveness will enable UK companies to enjoy similar success but at a price for capability that few will match.”

The announcement that Ward CNC – which is based in Sheffield and Redditch – is handling the machine manufactured by Buffalo Machinery in Taiwan on an exclusive distributor basis in the UK and Ireland, complements and enhances its already well-established ranges from Hyundai Wia, Hartford, Takisawa Japan, Takisawa Taiwan, Soraluce and Hankook.

Buffalo Machinery has been manufacturing machine tools since 1997 (the company was established in 1979) and it applies this long-established expertise in the Axile G8’s construction.

The G8 model incorporates a Kessler (Germany) 800mm diameter table for workpieces weighing 1,300kg and X-, Y- and Z-axes capacities of 670mm x 820mm x 600mm.

The machine’s positioning capability of 0.008mm and repeatability of 0.004mm are provided via direct servo-driven double roller-type linear guideways and linear measurement feedback scales (0.0001mm resolution) on the X-, Y- and Z-axes with pre-loaded double nut ballscrews. The Y-axis has twin left hand and right hand linear guideways, a drive and measurement system, and the Z-axis incorporates a three-guideway design for enhanced rigidity and cutting performance. Available feed rate in X, Y and Z is 60m/minute.

Oil-cooled rotary torque motors drive the rotary C-axis with dual torque motor drive on the swivelling A axis (± 5 seconds of arc rotary scale feedback). The 360° C-axis positions at 100rpm and the A-axis (± 120°) has a positioning speed of 80rpm. Hydraulic brakes are incorporated in every element to enhance cutting capability when static. The 800mm diameter tee-slotted table platen is prepared with three 80 bar hydraulic ports and a 6 bar pneumatic port for fixture and workholding management.

The G8 design incorporates many features, such as 24 individual temperature sensors throughout the entire machine to feedback operational thermal status to the CNC system, for accuracy performance enhancement and specialised coolant delivery, flushing and swarf management.

Two Kessler HSK A63 synchronous motor spindles options are available incorporating air/oil lubrication – 39kW, 15,000rpm, 187Nm and 35kW, 20,000rpm, 130Nm. The spindle has 20 bar through-spindle coolant as standard, with options up to 70 bar pressure and higher, including stepless programmable pressure, cartridge and paper band filtration plus additional coolant management features.

Twin automatic tool exchange carousels with 32/64, 48/96 or 60/120 tools are mounted in the machine behind the spindle, offering an automatic toolchange capacity up to 120 tools to facilitate sister tools, complex parts machining and unmanned operation. Two laser toolsetting options are available – U-type table-mounted for high accuracy or wall-to-wall type with auto protection covers for enhanced protection.

The G8 is ergonomically designed to provide good user-friendly features for the operator, such as automatic sliding roof to facilitate loading and unloading by overhead crane, and close access to the worktable and spindle.

There is a choice of CNC system: Heidenhain iTNC 530 or TNC 640, Siemens 840D or Fanuc 31iMB5, and innovative Smart Technology control functionality is embedded in the machine’s Industry 4.0 strategies.

Standard features include kinematics, dynamic collision monitoring, tool centre point management, tilted working plane, collision avoidance and 5-axis transformation.

Additional Axile features include: tool-tip positioning control – real-time direct displacement measuring/monitoring for enhanced accuracy; spindle vibration supervision; metal removal rate optimisation; and axial accuracy control – thermal monitoring and compensation provided by 24 strategically-mounted thermal sensors.

Options include automatic workpiece measurement, and automatic compensation of linear and rotary axes displacement via Heidenhain kinematics functionality and as standard, the machine is supplied with chain-type chip conveyor.

The result is a machine tool offering excellent performance, accuracy, quality and a range of features at a price range that offers value for money.

The latest Axile G6 model, which offers a design that accommodates full factory automation capability, can be viewed soon at Ward CNC – but the G8 model can be seen being put through its paces at Ward CNC’s Sheffield head office showroom, where several open house events are being planned.

Ward CNC www.wardcnc.com