Technology

The rotary, lifting and linear axes of the handling unit enable precise movement of heavy workpieces up to 1200 kg, including the pallet, between the setup station, storage modules and the machining centre’s working area.

Pallets up to 800 x 630 are handled precisely.

The Makino a51nx represents best-in-class 400mm horizontal machining center that builds on the highly successful a51 platform with key high performance machining technologies that take productivity, accuracy and machine reliability to the next level.

The a51nx build provides increases in stability and reductions in cycle or down time.

• 1000 psi high pressure coolant
• Renishaw probing and laser tool setter
• Makino SGI for superior surface finish
• 60 tool magazine with integrated detection
• Lang Technovation Modular Pallets for rapid reconfiguration with minimal downtime.

Equipped with Okuma’s high-power, high-torque PREX motor, this machine delivers high-quality machining from heavy- to high-speed cutting. The open-architecture OSP-P control makes this machine not only easy to operate, but also to integrate with other peripheral equipment.

• 1000 psi high pressure coolant
• Capto Tooling System for maximum reconfiguration with minimal downtime
• Live axial and radial tooling for milling operations
• LNS Servo Bar feeders for scalable automation and lights-out manufacturing

Instead of using a generic CNC control, with only VMC capabilities, Brother invented and patented the technology for “synchronized tapping” and still holds this patent.

Brother’s patented design monitors the feed of the Z-axis, while making constant adjustments to the spindle RPM to stay synchronized.

The result is better tap life and the ability to tap the smallest of holes up to 8,000 RPM.

Carat guideways are used on Zeiss Contura for high rigidity, low thermal expansion and minimal moving weights. Air bearings in all three axes ensure consistent stability even at high travel speeds and acceleration.

The floating glass ceramic scales on ZEISS CONTURA are practically expansion free and therefore do not require any additional temperature sensors or mathematical compensation.

“Place and press” non-contact metrology combines accuracy and speed.

• No time consuming positioning work or datum setup required
• Measures up to 99 dimensions on up to 100 parts at the push of a button
• Automatically saves measurement data and creates inspection reports
• Automatic focal adjustment prevents inconsistent values

SCHUNK grippers are known for their precision, longevity, and robustness. They are synonymous with process stability and efficiency in assembly and handling.

One highlight is the PGN-plus gripper series. The patented multi-tooth guidance allows the distribution of power and torque to various guiding surfaces. This increases the strength of the guidances and makes workpiece handling more precise and reliable. In addition, the lubrication pockets in the new PGN-plus design provide permanent lubrication.

Fortus 3D printing systems build parts in the materials you’re familiar with, but with the advanced complexity and high requirements needed for today’s applications. Fortus printing systems make it easy to produce complex parts more efficiently and effectively.

We use the Fortus system primarily to produce workholdings for our quality department. These can be easily duplicated and shipped to customer QS to ensure symmetry in the quality process.

Additionally, this system provides an effective and quick rapid prototyping module for form-fit-function tests.

The Formlabs Form 2 is a workhorse that delivers great results in a compact package.

An excellent machine for small batch prototyping.

What makes this SLA 3D printer interesting is the consistent quality. While FFF printers need a constant balancing of parameters, temperatures, filaments, and extruders, the Formlabs Form 2 just delivers.

Shrink fit chucks grip the cutting tool 360° around the shank on multiple planes, delivering very high gripping torque that prevents chatter during roughing or finishing operations.

Haimer systems achieve the highest balance accuracy standards (G2.5@ 25,000 RPM). Since shrink fit holders have no moving parts, they offer the best balance repeatability of any tool holding system on the market.

Nothing beats the tool change time of our shrink fit chucks when combined with our
Power Clamp shrink fit machines. Tool changes can be done in less than 5 seconds.

Probing is an established best practice for maximising the efficiency, quality, capability and accuracy of machine tools. Standard routines built into modern CNC controls simplify the integration of probing cycles into machining operations and offline tools. These routines, combined with a CAD interface, make the simulation of measurement functions easy.

Renishaw probes deliver significant cost savings, and improvements in quality, for all applications using machine tools throughout many industries.

Blum workpiece touch probes are used for fast and automatic workpiece measurement and workpiece zero point measurement in machine tools.

Specially designed for the harsh conditions in these machines, the probe systems are an effective solution for improving workpiece accuracy and productivity.

Round, rectangular or square in shape, for single or multiple clamping, two different stud sizes and spacings (52 mm and 96 mm), Quick-Point provides a solution for every application. It can be used universally in vertical and horizontal machining centers, on 3- and 5-axis tables and 4th axis rotary or trunnion systems.

The attachment of the zero-point plate to the machine table or faceplate is done easily through prefabricated hole patterns for common t-slot distances, bore patterns and bolt circles or individual, customized mounting options.

• Best accessibility and process reliability for 5-sided machining
• Highest holding power at low actuation forces through form-closure clamping
• Easly reproduction of clamping situation without using endstops
• Great handling characteristics due to low weight
• Integrated zero-point adaptation

Machined parts from difficult-to-machine materials with complex geometries demand a specialist tooling solution.

OSG is the leading manufacturer of taps, end mills, drills, and indexable cutting tools. OSG’s extensive line of high technology cutting tools features exclusive metallurgy, cutting geometries and proprietary surface treatments to help increase productivity, reliability and tool life

OSG drills are used in numerous precision industries including aerospace and medical manufacturing.

Siemens NX software is a flexible and powerful integrated solution that delivers the next generation of design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions.

Supporting every aspect of product development, from concept design through engineering and manufacturing, NX provides an integrated toolset that coordinates disciplines, preserves data integrity and design intent, and streamlines the entire process.

Vericut is a 3D solids-based software program that interactively simulates the material removal process of an NC program. The program depicts multi-axis milling/drilling as well as multi-axis turning and combination mill/turn machining.Inefficient motion or programming errors that could potentially ruin a part, damage the fixture, or break the cutting tool can be corrected before the program is run on a CNC machine tool.

Vericut is equipped with NC program optimization capabilities. Based on initial programmed feed rates, Vericut automatically determines the optimum safe feed rate for each cut. Cycle time can be reduced significantly. Optimized feed rates also result in longer cutting tool life, fewer broken cutting tools and scrapped parts, better quality parts due to minimized cutter deflection, and a better finish on part surfaces and edges due to constant tool pressure.

Vericut shows material removal at the workpiece level, but can also simulate entire machine tools as they appear on a shop floor.

Zeiss PiWeb software ensures all our quality and process data is analyzed in real time, evaluated and graphically represented.

The results of the measurements are directly converted into correction values for production. This saves time and reduces the possible risk of errors.

PiWeb produces a wealth of useable data that we harness for enhanced quality reporting and process optimization.

An industry standard and fixture with some cool recent upgrades. SolidWorks 2020 delivers improved performance and streamlined workflows.

New detailing mode handles large, complex drawings while still being able to add and edit drawing annotations.

Envelope Publisher speeds up design by including components from a top-level assembly as envelopes in a subassembly. This helps us run simulations faster with a hybrid mesh that contains both draft and high-quality elements.

CAMWorks is an intuitive, feature-based CAM software that helps to increase productivity using best-in-class technologies and adaptable automation tools to maximize CNC machining efficiency.

The new ‘Machine to the Mean’ capabilities in CAMWorks eliminates long-standing issues surrounding differences between design practices required to tolerance parts based on fit, form and function vs. theneed to machine geometry based on mean dimensions and tolerances.

Roboguide is the leading of offline programming product on the market for Fanuc robots. The program allows us to create, program and simulate a robotic workcell in 3-D without the physical need and expense of a prototype workcell setup. Roboguide reduces risk by enabling visualization of single and multi-robot workcell layouts before actual installation.