The machine has an installed weight of 6.5 tonnes and occupies a compact footprint of 2.95 by 2.35 m. Capable of interpolating four of the five axes simultaneously, it is intended for the 5-face machining of workpieces weighing up to 200 kg (with fixture). A Fanuc 0iMF control allows an easy gateway into 5-axis operations for users more familiar with this CNC system than others on the market.
The working envelope is defined by 400 by 650 by 485 mm ballscrew-driven travels in X, Y and Z, together with two rotary, hydraulically clamped axes, which are facilitated by a 360° C-axis table and a +30/-120° A-axis swivelling trunnion.
The BT40 direct-drive spindle, served with cutters exchanged from a 24-station tool magazine, offers 11 kW of continuous power (15 kW for 30 minutes) and speeds up to 12,000 rpm, or optionally 15,000 or 20,000 rpm (HSK-A63). High production output is assured by a cutting feed rate of 10 m/min and rapids of 36 m/min in X, 24 m/min in Y and 10 m/min in Z.
Standard equipment includes chip wash-down for the table and twin augers in the Y axis, plus one in the X axis to evacuate swarf, while bed wash-down and different styles of chip conveyor are available.
Also offered are an interface on the table for a hydraulic fixture, 32- or 40-pocket chain-type tool magazines, through-spindle coolant, roller bearing guideways, linear encoder position feedback, and automatic tool length and workpiece measuring using either Blum or Renishaw sensors. Additionally, a Mitsubishi M830 control can be specified instead of Fanuc.
Whitehouse Machine Tools has a Wele UQ400 vertical machining centre in stock for inspection and cutting trials at its Kenilworth showroom and technical centre.
