The machines comprise: an AgieCharmilles wire EDM (Cut P 550 Pro); two Mikron 5-axis machining centres (a Mill P 500UD and a Mill E 700U with integrated pallet changer); an AgieCharmilles Form P 350 die-sink EDM with System 3R WorkPartner 1+ automation system; the newly developed AgieCharmilles Cut AM 500 (a wire-cut machine specifically designed for additive manufacturing applications); and the newly devised DMP Flex 350 (a metal 3D-printing machine).
From Stand 100 in Hall 20, two major themes will be running: automation, utilising the company’s WorkShopManager and CellManager technologies; and rConnect, the company’s live remote assistance and machine monitoring platform. Furthermore, GF Machining Solutions’ product, technical and customer service staff will be available throughout the show to talk about solutions such as micro-machining, laser ablation and texturing, and the dedicated 5-axis machining of turbine blades, impellers and blisks.
At the heart of the Cut P 550 wire EDM is a newly developed, intelligent IPG (Intelligent Power Generator) that improves cutting performance from previous models by 20%. The machine also features a number of on-board automation solutions that improve machine-tool utilisation and uptime, and reduce running costs, says the company. These include the machine’s automatic slug management (ASM) and automatic slug welding (ASW) capabilities.
The Cut P 550 is equipped with: thermo-stabilisation technology, delivering accuracies down to down to 2 micron and surface finishes down to Ra 0.08; taper cutting accuracy via its Expert systems; and improved energy-saving EconoWatt functionality. At MACH, the Cut P 550 will be showcased along with another development from GF Machining Solutions in the area of consumables that specifically concerns smart wire technology. This technology features EDM wire embedded with radio frequency (RFID) chips that helps minimise human error (in identifying the correct wire), and improves process quality and reliability, stock and process traceability, and part cost calculation.
Staying with wire EDM, the Cut AM 500 is a horizontal, fast, automation-ready machine dedicated to metal additive manufacturing (AM) that makes it easy to separate additively manufactured metal parts from the build plate while maintaining geometrical accuracy and ensuring assembly readiness.
Accommodating parts up to 510 by 510 by 510 mm (including the base plate), and up to 500 kg in weight, the Cut AM 500 uses 0.2 mm diameter wire to separate additively manufactured parts from the build platform at a maximum cutting speed of 300 mm2/m. The machine delivers ±0.1 mm accuracy and surface roughness of less than 6 micron.
From a die-sink EDM perspective, visitors will be able to see the Form P 350 with System 3R WorkPartner 1+ automation system. The repeatable machining of micro-cavities is just one example of the manufacturing challenges that can be resolved with the Form P 350, while integrated technologies, such as iGAP, ensure the fast and accurate machining of rib cavities with a homogenous surface finish, says the company.
Manufacturers requiring maximum productivity from their Form P 350 can exploit its eConnectivity and MTConnect features, which enable them to stay informed of the machine’s status.
Moving to 5-axis machining centres, taking centre stage will be the Mikron Mill P 500UD, which features a thermo-stable and symmetrical design, so that even when machining at a fast pace and over long production periods, accuracy and process reliability remain high and consistent. The machine delivers acceleration of 1.7 g and is equipped with a 36 kW Step-Tec motor spindle. Direct angle measuring systems are mounted on the machine’s rotary and tilting axes to guarantee high positional and repeatable accuracies.
Also at the show will be the Mikron Mill E 700U 5-axis milling centre with rigid C-frame construction, large-sized guideways and a double-support rotary table. The machine is equipped with a 120 Nm spindle offering up to 36 kW/20,000 rpm, a direct rotary tilting table (-65/+120°), a large ATC (up to 215 tools), 30 m/min rapids, a 450 kg maximum table load and an integrated work-piece pallet changer (up to 7 pallets).
The spotlight will also shine on the DMP Flex 350 from 3D Systems, which produces parts up to 275 by 275 by 380 mm from high-performance metal alloys. DMP Flex 350 represents an integrated metal 3D-printing solution that includes a production DMP printer, 3DXpert software and Lasrform materials. High-productivity 3D metal printing is assured by the machine’s fast, bi-directional material deposition. At the same time, productivity is accelerated by high printer utilisation and short changeover times.
