On display will be three vertical lathes, including one with live tooling; a side-by-side twin spindle CNC turning center with gantry loader, useful for chucker-type parts; a dual opposed-spindle turning system featuring spindle-to-spindle part transfer; a single-spindle CNC lathe with quick loader system; plus a CNC lathe with dual turrets for added toolholding capacity and process flexibility.

The QL 30H chucker-type system has a fully automatic, flexible wrist gantry load/unload system, plus twin spindles and dual turrets that can handle parts up to 200 mm (7.87″) in diameter and 100 mm (3.9″) long. The machine’s twin spindles are said to allow users to double output by performing the same operation simultaneously, by synchronizing A-B operations, or by turning two different parts.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3101/is_3_73/ai_65019417

A precise vertical machining centre incorporates a direct drive table to the C-axis to rotate the 400mm diameter pallet - integrating turning with full 5-axis interpolation for milling and drilling

The UK’s 600 Goup informed that Toyoda Mitsui Seiki will be demonstrating the integration of turning within the 5-axis milling process at the EMO 2007 exhibition in Hannover. The Vertex 550-5X vertical machining centre (VMC) incorporates a direct drive table to the C-axis in order to revolve the 400mm diameter pallet to integrate turning with full 5-axis interpolation for milling and drilling.

The high precise, compact machine has axes travels of 550mm in X, 600mm in Y, 450mm in Z, 360 deg in C and +15 deg to 105 deg in A.

Rapid traverse rates in X-, Y- and Z-axis are 48m/min - achieved with an acceleration of 0.5G.

Spindle speeds are 25,000 rev/min with an option of 15,000 rev/min to cover the entire spectrum of materials used in the aerospace industry.

The machine uses the latest Fanuc 31iM-A5 control which incorporates the latest AI software for improved high speed machining.

* horizontal machining centre - Toyoda Mitsui Seiki is also demonstrating a FH630SX horizontal machining centre fitted with a seven pallet pool and matrix automatic toolchange system for extended running.

The box guideway machine has strokes of 1000mm in X, 800mm in Y and 850mm in Z with rapid traverse rates of 48m/min achieved with an acceleration of 0.5G.

Spindle speeds are 6,000 rev/min for the 30kW drive.

There is a higher speed option of 15,000 rev/min.

The machine uses the same Fanuc 31iM-A5 control as the Vertex 550-5X.

* Toyoda Mitsui Seiki at EMO 2007, Hannover, Germany, September 17-22, Hall 27, Stand A54/A66.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/siz/siz221.html

The DuraVertical and DuraTurn series of universal vertical milling and turning machines combine new levels of affordability with the quality and reliability synonymous with Mori Seiki

Launched in the UK at MACH 2006, the DuraVertical and DuraTurn series of universal vertical milling and turning machines combine new levels of affordability with the quality and reliability synonymous with Mori Seiki. DURA stands for durability, universality, reliability and accuracy, emphasising the benefits which can be gained from these compact machines, which use only Japanese manufactured assemblies, and castings to ensure that Mori Seiki’s high quality standards are maintained.

The DuraVertical is available in three sizes, with a choice of travel in the X-axis of 600, 800 or 1050mm and a maximum table size of 1350mm x 600mm and a maximum load of 1000kg on the largest machine, all contained in a footprint of around 4.4m2.

The automatic toolchanger holds 30 tools and can achieve a chip-to-chip time of 4 seconds.

Machine construction includes linear guideways along all axes capable of maximum traverse rates up to 36m/min, while the C frame contributes to the rigidity of the machine, minimising vibrations by using Mori Seiki’s technical expertise in static and dynamic analysis of machine behaviour under cutting conditions.

The DuraTurn includes an innovative high rigidity flat bed with offset Z-axis and linear guideways along all axes for maximum accuracy.

Four variations with 6′, 8′, 10′ and 12′ chucks provide turning diameters from 330 to 360mm, turning lengths from 315 to 530mm, and through spindle diameters up to 91mm.

All the models include a 12 station turret and optional support for workpiece unloading, and a bar feed interface while the two larger machines in the range feature a live centre tailstock as standard.

Mori Seiki UK is so sure of the return on investment these machines can provide that it is guaranteeing a return of at least £24,000, calculated using conservative values for hourly rates and usage in the first 12 months after payment of the machine rental.

Should the customer fail to hit this target Mori Seiki will arrange for the machine’s return.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/mxv/mxv104.html

For those familiar only with manual lathes, making the jump to CNC can be a scary proposition. But take heart, because more and more control builders are focusing on providing CNCs with operational and programming capabilities that even the complete novice can grasp.

A good example is the new 8050TC lathe CNC from Fagor Automation (Elk Grove Village, Illinois). The aim of the new design, says the builder, is to offer lathe users a CNC as simple to operate as a DRO. The new CNC offers an easy and intuitive interface, eliminating the need for a lengthy training period in order to be able to program a part.

The interface is based on the most common operations performed on a lathe—turning, facing, threading and so on. Each one of these operations is selected via a specific key and it is designed in such a way that all the operator has to do is enter the machining conditions and part geometry data, which can be obtained directly off of a typical part print.

This sort of control makes sense in a number of typical manufacturing applications. For example, prototype manufacturers are often presented with relatively complicated parts, but that are made in very small quantities, perhaps only one. An easily programmable CNC can handle complicated geometry that’s difficult to cut manually, and also keep quantity-of-one jobs out of the CAM department.

Moreover, many companies with operators who are skilled in machining, but not programming, need an easy-to-use CNC in order to save on machine setup time. With them in mind, an interface has been developed which allows operators to enter part geometry the way it appears on a print, without having to use any programming language. All that has to be done is enter the operations required to make the part (turning, facing, and so on) sequentially and with the proper coordinates. All these operations may then be graphically verified on the CNC monitor before finishing the part program.

For longer run manufacturers, the CNC offers an advanced profile editor (capable of solving part geometry with undefined coordinates, tangency, and so on) or the choice of using ISO and high-level language programming.

The CNC spans an operational range from emulation of a manual lathe to full production turning. In jog mode the control shows the basic process information including position of the axes, feed rate, spindle rpm and selected tool. In this mode, the operator may perform simple machining operations in a conventional way by means of electronic handwheels. Selected tools are indicated by icons on the screen that show the shape of the tool to help avoiding accidental errors.

The CNC also offers simple control of spindle speed, turning direction and orientation. It includes operation at constant surface speed, operation with live tools, operation with jog keys (to move the axes manually) and operation with handwheels.

It also offers a number of tool management features. To establish tool offsets, the operator just has to secure the part, enter its dimensions and touch it with the tool. Then the CNC automatically collects all the necessary data to run without errors. And there is graphic assistance to enter tool geometry.

Automatic cycles are designed to better adapt to the usual working methods of a shop. The machining process is divided into a certain number of operations represented by icon keys with LEDs to indicate whether they are activated or not.

The CNC offers quite a wide variety of automatic cycles including turning, facing, rounding, taper cutting, threading, grooving, drilling and face tapping. Each one of these cycles may be simulated by using the graphics key on the operator panel in order to verify that it will run properly.

Also, profiling cycles offer several levels, depending on the complexity of the part. In Cycle 1, to enter the shape of the part, all one has to do is know the locations of its theoretical corners (up to a maximum of 12 points) and enter the desired corresponding radius or chamfer conditions. In Cycle 2, it is possible to “tell” the CNC to solve the undefined variables that come up—for instance, tangency. The program editor searches and calculates, in a totally transparent way to the user, the possible solutions according to the known data, thus eliminating the need for additional manual calculations.

http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/0498scan1.html

VRX Industries Ltd Announces British Columbia, Canada - November 19, 2007 - VRX Industries Ltd., a premier designer, developer, and manufacture of home & corporate entertainment products, today announced the launch of the ultimate, home-entertainment race simulator: the “VRX MACH 4″ for this holiday season. The VRX MACH 4 is a masterpiece of cutting edge technology combined with an ascetically-stunning design. The VRX MACH 4 is powered by four Xbox 360’s, outputting 4 Teraflops of power, which drive the 3 Sharp Aquos LCD’s; the fourth Xbox 360 powers a 7″ LCD rear view mirror which elevates the virtual racing experience to a new level of realism.

The design and development of the VRX MACH 4 Prototype began in the fall of 2006. “Our goal is to eclipse the success of the VRX PRO (launched with the original Forza Motorsport),” said Robert Stanners, President, VRX Industries Ltd. “With the success of Forza Motorsport 2, we are confident to surpass all expectations. VRX is committed to total excellence in developing the Ultimate Race Simulator by being the world’s first to combine a total of 4 LCD’s which completely immerses the driver in the virtual race environment. VRX Industries goal is to give drivers the true and complete sense and feeling of speed; taking the sensation further beyond the tactile feedback system of the Buttkicker and Bose Acoustimass 10 sound system by adding a Virtual Wind System powered by 2 dual Honeywell Fans.”; another innovation 1st by VRX.

Specifications:
. 4 Microsoft Xbox 360’s
. 4 Copy’s Forza Motorsport 2
. Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter
. Microsoft Force Feedback Steering wheel
. 3 Sharp Aquos 37″ LC-D62U 1080p HD LCD displays
. Adjustable rear view Power Acoustik (PTM 750) 7″ LCD display
. Bose Acoustimass 10 series surround sound system with subwoofer
. Harmon Kardon AVR-144 Surround Sound receiver
. 1500 Watt Tactile Vibration Feedback System
. 1900 Watt Tactile Power Amplifier
. Virtual Wind System powered by 2 dual Honeywell fans with chrome shroud
. 1″ CNC machined polished aluminum foot assembly that connects to the front
of the VRX
. Universal triple screen aluminum mounting bracket that accepts LCD
displays from 20″ to 40″
. Adjustable aluminum and tinted acrylic component shelves
. On board power bar and unique wire way system conceals cables
. Polished chrome chassis with powder coated wheel mount and pedal mount
. CNC billet aluminum Speaker Mounts and Seat Wing
. Front and rear non-slip aluminum vibration dampeners
. 3M automotive chrome trim concealed edges
. Italian Sparco Monza racing seat (choice of Red/Black or Black/Silver)
. Sparco automotive seat slider
. Suspension seat base
. 3/D epoxy coated graphics
. Velcro and machined rubber grip blocks “prevents wheel and pedal movement”
. 10″ diagonal and 8″ horizontal wheel adjustments
. Polished Aluminum Speaker Mounts
. LED Lighting effects
. Beverage Containment System

About VRX Industries Ltd

VRX Industries Ltd. specializes in design, development and manufacturing of new and exciting products for the home and corporate environment. VRX Industries has been designing leading edge simulation racing products since 1999. VRX is recognized throughout the industry for its innovative designs and high quality production. As the market for simulation racing continues to grow, VRX continues to adapt their products to meet market demand and provide customers with what they want. Our clients include professional race car drivers, racing enthusiasts, and entertainment competitors who are all thrilled with the high standard of design and functionality of the VRX Racer.

VRX Industries Ltd. is headquartered in Sidney B.C. Canada

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/12/17/073700.html

The company has released Predator Virtual CNC version 3.4, a solids-based CNC simulation and verification application designed for programmers to verify their work off-line and simulate the manufacturing process prior to releasing any CNC programs or jobs to the shop floor. The latest version, which helps machinists reduce or eliminate scrapped parts and machine tool damage, adds new G- and M-code simulation improvements, third party CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) compatibility, new comprehensive custom macro A and B support for parametric programming and expanded SDK (software development kit) support, among other enhancements.

The addition of custom macros to version 3.4 will enable programmers to build subprograms and use program logic to eliminate redundant programming of machine functions, such as milling multiple pockets. By supporting basic macro functions, including IF/THEN/GOTO statements, expressions and system and user-definable program variables, programmers will save time and avoid errors in their parametric part programming. This builds upon Virtual CNC’s core capabilities and market-leading verification and simulation.

Cycle time accuracy is greatly improved in Virtual CNC by taking into account the simulation of tool acceleration and de-acceleration. Prior to this upgrade, cycle times were theoretical and assumed that a tool started immediately at the programmed feed rate without any ramp up time. Over time, the inaccuracies compound on one another leading to unreliable cycle times.

Virtual CNC’s third party compatibility is greatly expanded. Version 3.4 includes a new C-book for MasterCAM version 8.0, SURFCAM Inc. tool path support, and Pathtrace and Unigraphics support via APT/CL.

Version 3.4 includes new APIs for SDK (software developer kit) users. Improvements include support for calculating rest stock curves and remaining material boundaries for two-through five-axis milling, turning and mill/turn machining, with support for any tool shape. Support is also available in both solid and turbo models with positive or negative stock-to-leave options. These features are intended for CAM vendors who license the Virtual CNC SDK.

Additional benefits in version 3.4 include new G- and M-code simulation for lathe tapping and threading, pallet changes, clamp on, clamp off, and air blasts. Improved support for the following CNC controls includes Anilam, Bridgeport, Dynapath, Fadal, Fagor, Fanuc, Ferrari, Hans, Hardinge, Heidenhain, Hitachi, Hurco, K&T, Mazak, MDSI, Mitsubishi, Seimens, Toshiba and Vickers.

Other key features holding over from version 3.3 include tapered bull-nose tool support, turbo model STL export, CADL, APT/CL and APT/ISO export, solid and turbo model tool display, external sub programs, G10-style work offsets and G65-style macro calls.

APT/CL and APT/ISO formats are available to support advanced CNC functions, including subroutines, sub programs, macro calls, variables, expressions, rotary table indexing and multi-axis simultaneous machining. CADL export can be used to reverse engineer two- through five-axis CNC programs to 3D graphical formats. Users can import tool paths as 3D geometry into their CAD/CAM system and re-post tool path motion for use on another CNC, plus they can extend the life of proven CNC programs by transferring data from legacy systems and processes.

Virtual CNC provides large CNC program support, solid model rendering, inspection and feature recognition, four- and five-axis simultaneous milling simulation, collision detection, stock rotations, STLFIX Utility and the Repeat Continuously option, as well as the ability to increase the maximum number of tools per job to 1,024.

System requirements for the Microsoft Windows 95/98/2000 and WindowsNT operating systems are an Intel Pentium-based processor or equivalent, 64 MB of RAM and 40 MB of hard disk space.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3101/is_200602/ai_69712025

CNC Simulation And Verification Software–LightWork Design, Booth D-3300
MachineWorks version 5 features enhancements to the core engine Visicut and two new geometric engines, Pixelcut and Multicut. Pixelcut is said to enable the user to quickly simulate large tool paths on low specification PCs, and CNCs with a limited memory size. Multicut, according to the company, is technology combining speed with analytical accuracy. This enables the user to infinitely zoom into a CNC tool path without any compromise in geometric and visualization quality.

Version 5 also sees the launch of a new, more market focused licensing structure that now includes a specialist die/mold module based on Multicut, alongside a multi-axis module.

Machine Works is the company’s CNC simulation and verification tool kit for manufacturing software developers.

According to the company, by integrating this software directly into their applications, developers can access technology to shorten their R&D cycle and get to market with a solution that their customers can rely on to increase productivity and guarantee the quality of their manufacturing output.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3101/is_4_75/ai_91711791