Okuma 5-axis VMC turns as well as mills

The Okuma 5-axis MU-500VA vertical machining centre has a 1,000 rpm table, allowing components to be turned in conjunction with a static tool in the spindle. (If this option is chosen, an HSK-A63 taper has to be specified instead of the standard 40 taper spindle.) The design is based on a fully integrated trunnion swivelling horizontally through +20 / -110° and carrying a 360° rotary table. They respectively add a and c axes to an x, y, z envelope of 1,250 by 60 by 40 mm. Maximum component weight is 500 kg. Trunnion rotation is 50 rpm, and linear axes have 40 m/min rapid traverse in x and y, 32 m/min in z; the latter speed also being the maximum cutting feed rate throughout the entire working volume. Spindle options are 11 or 22 kW, delivering up to 15,000 rpm, while table drive for turning is rated at 15 kW. There is also a choice of magazine capacity of 20, 32 or 48 stations, automatic tool change time being fast at 1.8 seconds. In common with all of Okuma's latest machine tools, the multi-functional, 12-tonne MU-500VA has been designed to minimise machining inaccuracies due to heat variation in the machine structure and spindle, despite ambient temperature change of as much as 8 °C. The patented Thermo-Friendly Concept won the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineering Award in 2002.