AMB 2012 preview

(Video shows Chiron's FZ08MT mill-turn unit) At any exhibition for metalworking technologies, it is machine tools that take centre stage, particularly when there are new models to turn heads, start debates and ultimately drive investment. This is what Haas Automation (01603 760539) will be hoping when it gives a European launch to its UMC-750 universal machining centre (the prototype made its debut at EMO 2011). The UMC-750 offers travels of 762 by 559 by 508 mm, along with an integrated dual-axis trunnion table. The machine is equipped with an inline, direct-drive, 40-taper spindle (8,000 or 12,000 rpm) and comes as standard with a 40+1 side-mount toolchanger. The trunnion can position parts at nearly any angle for 5-sided (3+2) machining or provide simultaneous 5-axis motion for contouring and complex machining. MILLING AND TURNING Continuing the machining centre theme, Chiron will present its new FZ08MT and FZ12MT, both of which feature an integrated tool revolver for simultaneous milling and turning. Thanks to the swivel head, turning spindle, tool revolver and opposed spindle, these machines have up to 11 controllable axes, all of which are equipped with direct path measurement systems that facilitate precise positioning and simultaneous operation. Available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (01926 818418), the two models feature an opposed spindle with swivel axis to permit 5-axis operations and the 6-sided machining of bar material. Another new machine offering five axes of motion is the new generation of U5-2520 vertical machining centres from Spinner. With the first model shipped in July, this new series is designed for long workpieces, as well as pendulum machining. The machines, available in the UK from Whitehouse Machine Tools (01926 852725), are said to be optimised for rigidity. Elsewhere at the show, visitors will be able to see the new Alzmetall GS1400/5-FDT machining centre, which entered production at the company in April. This model, available from Kyal Machine Tools (01780 765965), features integrated milling and turning operations, and is suited to the one-hit machining of large turbine parts with diameters of around 1,000 mm, for example. Stepping up a notch in terms of scale, the new SHW PowerForce 8 (click here) will be promoted at AMB. This energy-efficient, 200 tonne travelling column machining centre, is intended for producing components within a large working volume defined by the user. X-axis travel is modular in 1 m increments from 10 to 50 m, while the vertical Y-axis can be 7.1 or 8.1 m and the cross Z-axis travel is 2 m. The UK agent is Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools (023 9258 0371). From a turning perspective, a new innovation on the stand of Tornos (01530 513100) will be a feature that allows machines to run without a guide bush or as a conventional slider to reduce material waste by up to 60%. The new system has been made available on the Delta, Gamma and the new EvoDeco 16 machines. For typical-looking fixed-head parts below 45 mm in length, these models can now run as a bush-less machine or as a standard sliding head turning centre. Image: Tornos Delta, Gamma and the new EvoDeco 16 machines can run without a guide bush or as a conventional slider EDM will also be strongly represented at the show, with Mitsubishi Electric claiming a major technology breakthrough with the innovative 'tubular' drives deployed on its new MV wire EDM range. Launched at the exhibition, Mitsubishi Electric claims this technology overcomes the limitations associated with linear drives, such as heat accumulation and problems aligning the two drive motors together on the ways. Available from HK Technologies (01788 577288), the MV range also features new generator technology. New from another EDM specialist, ONA, will be the AF Modular wire EDM machine with a cutting capacity of up to 800 mm in height. ONA is keen to point out that this development is far from a simple "column up" re-design, but offers a solution for optimising the wire EDM process in very thick applications. Available from Warwick Machine Tools (01676 534534), it offers a high performance, stable cut in totally submerged mode along the full 800 mm Z-axis. Software is one of the most rapidly evolving technologies in the manufacturing sector and AMB will play host to a number of new CAM innovations. Delcam (0121 683 1000), for example, will demonstrate its new Vortex strategy (click here) for high speed area clearance. The major enhancement for the 2013 release of Delcam's PowerMILL CAM system for high speed and 5-axis machining, Vortex will also be added to the FeatureCAM software for feature-based programming and the PartMaker system for Swiss-type lathes, later this year. The latest releases of CAM software Alphacam and Edgecam, from Vero (01242 542040), will also be on show. It is expected that interest will centre round the 'Waveform Roughing Strategy', which features in both Alphacam 2012 R2 and Edgecam 2012 R2. Waveform is a high speed machining technique that maintains constant tool cutting load by ensuring the tool engagement is consistent. The tool moves in a smooth path to avoid sharp changes in direction, maintaining its velocity to decrease cycle times. Image: Edgecam's rotary milling feature Moving to cutting tools, among the new innovations on display will be HCF3120 (click here), the latest addition to the Dragonskin range of turning inserts for cast iron machining from WNT (0800 073 2073). Versatility for both roughing and finishing operations is achieved through a combination of hard and tough carbide substrate, along with a new CVD coating that results in tool life being increased by almost 60% when compared with current insert technology. CAST IRON MILLING DEVELOPMENT Sandvik Coromant (0121 504 5400) will also have a new offer for cast iron in the form of its S-60 roughing/finishing end mills. These new multi-tooth cutters are suitable for both dry and wet machining, and for machining of cast iron, as well as spheroidal graphite iron. Additional exhibits will include: the CoroMill 177 gear milling hob; CoroTap 210 and 370 tapping tools; and drills such as CoroDrill 860 (click here), CoroDrill 861 (click here), CoroDrill 862 (click here) and CoroDrill 870 (cllick here). Among other highlights will be the new MaxiMill 271-17 indexable insert milling cutter from Ceratizit (0800 048 4877) that cuts up to a depth of 8.4 mm. While reaching a higher metal removal rate, it also shows reduced power consumption. Elsewhere, Seco Tools (01789 764341) will be looking to promote a new range of solid thread milling cutters called Threadmaster, which is suitable for hardened materials, cast iron, steels and aluminium alloys. It covers dimensions from M1 x 0.25 up to M20 x 2.5 and has cutters for UN/C, W and NPT/F threads. On the Sumitomo stand (01844 342081), visitors will be able to see the company's latest ACE Coat AC405K and AC415K turning inserts (click here), which are said to demonstrate extended in-cut life of up to 1.5 times greater than conventional grades of inserts, even when turning the nodular graphite cast irons now used widely in the automotive sector. From a toolholding perspective, among the products being promoted on the Hardinge (0116 286 9900) stand will be the new GD-5AX-210 bolt-on, self-contained, tilting dual-axis, trunnion rotary table (click here) that converts a 3-axis mill into a full 5-axis multi-function machine in under an hour. The table is universal in application and will accept a wide range of proprietary toolholders, as well as the full Hardinge range. Finally, Nikken (1709 366306) will present its new X-Treme chuck, designed to accommodate the new TiTAN Rippa carbide milling cutters from Technicut (see p14). The chuck and cutter combination is said to offer a metal removal rate of 267 cm³/min at 50 mm depth of cut (25 mm diameter cutter) on titanium Ti-64. First published in Machinery, August 2012