Direct drive, rotary torque tables on the latest 5-axis machining centres give fast and responsive 3+2 (positional) or simultaneous, highly accurate 5-axis machining

GF AgieCharmilles launched a number of innovative Mikron 5-axis machining centres at EMO 2007 exhibition. They are being used by the UK subsidiary in its ‘Five Drive’ 5-axis machine tool campaign. In a report to manufacturingtalk.com, managing director at Agie Charmilles, UK, Steve Sylvester, said: ‘Amongst all the new machines GF AgieCharmilles launched at EMO in September - the new Mikron 5-axis machines are of particular importance and have been integrated into our ‘Five Drive’ campaign’.
GF AgieCharmilles introduced the ‘High Performance machining’ (HPM) Mikron HPM 600U and HPM 800U machines.

Both machines are equipped with direct-drive, rotary torque table technology aoffering fast and responsive 3+2 (positional) 5-axis machining and/or highly accurate (zero backlash) 5-axis simultaneous machining.

Sylvester said: ‘The new HPM 5-axis machines are aimed at high precision, complex part manufacture - and, owing to their automation potential, can be used for one-offs prototyping etc right through to high volume series production.’ For example - both machines can be supplied with a single table - or a twin pallet (table) option.

For increased productivity, the machines can be specified with APC capability (five, six or seven pallets) - or can be integrated easily with robot systems (loading/unloading) to create a flexible manufacturing cell.

The machines also feature the following.
* Portal design.

* High-accuracy 5-axis Step-Tec spindles (15,000 to 30,000 rev/min).

* Heidenhain iTNC 530 CNC.

* Mikron proprietary SMART technology software used to optimise the 5-axis machining process.

In addition to the HPM machines, GF AgieCharmilles also launched the XSM 400U linear 5-axis machine.

Equipped with linear motor drives on its axes, this machine was said at EMO to manufacturingtalk to be: ‘The fastest and most-accurate simultaneous 5-axis machine on the market.’ It features 80m/min fast feed rates and 2.5G acceleration/deceleration.

Mikron told manufacturingtalk.com that the machines are not only fast, they also have linear motors that ensure the following features.

* High-precision and repeatability (sub 3 micron positional accuracy).

* Integrated automation (ATC and APC).

* 5-axis Step-Tec spindles (30,000/42,000/54,000 rev/min).

* SMART technology software.

Sylvester concluded: ‘Mikron has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of milling technology.

The XSM 400U Linear machine is an extension of this - and this machine has no equal.

Whatever 5-axis machine tool customers are looking for - we have the optimum solution.