Early reports from the show held at the Tokyo Big Sight venue from 17-22 November indicate a heavy turnout of visitors. Machinery was told by one industry expert that the visitor count was around 140,000, an increase of 20,000 on 2014, with day one looking like a “London sales surge”. Official figures were not available as we go to press, but such an increase may be linked to the fact that JIMTOF 2016 marked the opening of two new exhibit halls. These, East 7 and 8, were largely for overseas exhibitors, who had been kept away in previous years, due to strong domestic demand for show space.
Information about product launches has been slow to reach Machinery, but there are some items of news to reveal. Japanese-own global manufacturing giant DMG Mori (02476 516120) had plenty. First off were new technology cycles for its metalcutting lathes and machining centres. These take in gear cycles for hobbing, skiving and milling; on-machine measurement via ‘3D quickSET’ and the ‘L-measuring package’; set-up, taking in efficient tool magazine population, counter-spindle tailstock, turret-mounted steady-rest and turret-mounted tailstock; chatter sensing, which boasts an alternating speed function, and also machine protection control (MPC) to avoid damage due to interference or overload, stopping the machine in 0.01 sec; and, finally, complex machining taking in multi-threading, interpolative turning and eccentric machining.
The company’s new line of vertical machining centres, CMX V series, was unveiled to the Asian audience, following its IMTS, Chicago, showing. The product concept is encapsulated in three words; compact, competitive and customised. CMX 600, 800 and 1100 V (figures are X-axis travel) are available. The CMX V series offers all of the 290 standard options for every DMG Mori VMC. Also new in the VMC line is the I 30V, details of which were not available to Machinery, with no details on the web.
In the 5-axis area, there was the new DMC 65 FD monoBLOCK (FD=fraesen und drehen – milling and turning) having a three-station automatic pallet changer as standard and a 630 mm diameter swivelling rotary table. The DMC 80 FD duoBLOCK 5-axis machining centre was also announced as new – X, Y and Z travels of 800, 1,050 and 850 mm, respectively. Finally, the 5-axis DMC 100 U duoBLOCK revealed there has X, Y and Z travels of 1,000, 1,250 and 1,000 mm, respectively.
An addition to DMG Mori’s large machine range (XXL), the DMU 210 P machining centre, was revealed. Again for 5-side/5-axis machining, it can tackle parts weighing up to 10 tonnes in its 2,100 by 2,100 by 1,250 mm travel envelope.
TURNED OUT FOR THE SHOW
In the turning area, there was the new Sprint 32|5, a small automatic lathe having five linear axes and also C-axis, for parts up to 32 mm in diameter by 600 mm length.
Finally, in DMG Mori’s ultrasonic range, the Ultrasonic 20 Linear made its appearance. High precision machining of a wide range of materials, from standard metals to difficult-to-cut materials of ceramics and high-tech materials of carbides, are its target. X, Y and Z travels are 200, 220 and 280 mm, respectively.
Ever higher accuracy and a leading productivity capability formed the background to four new machine releases by Mitsui Seiki. Completing the line-up, which reportedly drew more than 1,000 visitors to the stand on the first day, was a 5-axis simultaneous control Vertex 55Xlll, a horizontal HPX63ll machining centre, a high precision profiling centre PJ812 billed as the ‘Ultimate Mother’ machine and a J350G jig grinder. Mitsui Seiki is represented in the UK by 2D CNC Machinery (0844 871 8584).
The Vertex 55XIII 5-axis machine features a 400 mm diameter +15°/-105° tilting rotary table with a capacity of 750 mm diameter by 525 mm high. Axis travels are 550, 600 and 500 mm in X, Y and Z, with positioning and repeatability of ± 1 micron. A 25,000 rpm, 18 kW spindle features. Launching its multi-sensor monitoring system for thermal growth with this model (MAMS – Mitsui Accurate Milling Support), Mitsui Seiki claims Z-axis thermal displacement is improved by 35% over previous models.
Also claiming ± 1-micron performance in its three linear axes is the HPX63ll horizontal machining centre, which is 14% more compact than the previous generation. A range of spindles tackles aluminium, as well as tough alloy materials. Axis travels are 1,000, 800 and 900 mm (X, Y, Z), and rapid traverse rates of 54 m/min are reached.
JIG-BORING SPECIALIST
Precision profiling centre PJ812 realises greater accuracy through jig-borer positioning and contouring, due also to the introduction of MAMS. This provides multi-sensor thermal growth monitoring to control Z-axis thermal displacement and so delivers a 35% improvement over previous technologies. Repeatability of 1 micron is achieved in X, Y and Z (1,200, 800, 500 mm).
The compact J350G (50% smaller footprint than previous models) has a positioning accuracy of ±0.0007 mm. Longitudinal X-axis travel is 500 mm, saddle table transverse is 300 mm, while table to spindle nose distance is 450 mm, while quill travel measurement is 100 mm.
Mitsui Seiki also launched ‘G-MAPS for Fine Grinding’ conversational programming software, provided as standard with the Fanuc 31i-B5 control of the J350G.
Citizen Machinery showed a Miyano BNA-42GTY with Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) technology fitted. LFV breaks stringy swarf reliably, supporting trouble-free unmanned machining
For Citizen (01923 691500), its Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) technology took centre stage (see Machinery article: https://is.gd/fexewu) – LFV provides reliable swarf chipping in stringy swarf situations.
At JIMTOF, the first Miyano, a BNA-42GTY two-spindle, single-turret with gang tool-post machine (42 mm bar capacity fixed-head unit), to feature the technology was shown in prototype form. The BNA-42GTY LFV model will get its world launch towards the end of 2017. The third generation of the Miyano fixed-head BNA-42DHY3 was unveiled (42 mm bar capacity). This supports simultaneous left- and right-hand processing with the main eight-station turret and sub-compact six-station turret having double turning tools. There are extended strokes of 140 mm in X1 and X2, 235 mm in Z1, 360 mm in Z2 and ±70 mm in Y, plus a larger viewing window.
In the sliding-head area, the Citizen Cincom D25 (nominal 25 mm bar diameter) was revealed. Available with or without B-axis and having up to 59 tools held on independent double vertical gang tool posts, next-generation touchscreen control with higher levels of connectivity was key.
The latest upgrade to Citizen’s integrated laser technology on an L20 sliding-head featured more compact hardware that will make the machine and system more practical in the workshop area, as well as increasing system affordability.
Automation was also underlined, with the latest generation Citizen multi-cell MC20 (20 mm bar capacity) targeted at growing automotive industry demand and efficient processing in a compact area. Three or four moving headstock spindles in one machine are possible.
Okuma (NCMT, 0208 398 4277) has added the Multus U5000 to its line-up of multi-tasking machines. Designed for machining medium- and large-sized components for the aerospace, energy and infrastructure industries, it handles even difficult-to-cut materials, such as titanium and Inconel (capacity details unavailable).
GEAR-MAKING MADE EASIER
Okuma has made the available skiving and hobbing operations faster and easier to program on such machines, unveiling an accompanying software package. Connectivity via the company’s own OSP suite CNC software is said to allow “seamless integration of the machine tool into an ‘Internet of Things’-based production environment”.
Hailing its MU-S600V as a “smart machine” for 5-axis vertical machining, the model is able to instantly respond to changed lead times and accommodates production formats ranging from high-mix, low-volume to mass production, Okuma says.
Having a 600 mm diameter part capacity, its ‘robotic table’ enables completely unmanned, automated operations, eliminating manual handling of parts between set-ups undertaken on different machines.
Finally, Okuma MU-6300V Laser EX and the Multus U3000 Laser EX are capable of milling, turning, grinding, 3D metal printing and heat treatment for a wide range of workpiece sizes and shapes. Having a Trumpf laser beam source at its core, the Laser EX series supports laser metal deposition for both high volume and high definition additive manufacturing. 3D moulding, coating and sectional repair of heat-resistant alloys and highly rigid materials are supported.
Note: appearance at JIMTOF does not guarantee availability in the UK and, due to such considerations, details of Yamazaki Mazak JIMTOF launches were being reviewed by the firm’s UK arm as we went to press.
This article was published in the January issue of Machinery magazine.
