MACH 2014 - Mapal majors on innovation

Visitors to Mapal (Stand 5338 in Hall 5) will also be able to see demonstrations of the new Unibase-M automatic tool dispensing system, the Uniset-P setting fixture and the latest Tooltronic actuator control system. The EasyAdjust system is said to reduce the setting time for guide pad tools with indexable inserts while maintaining accuracy. Complementing EasyAdjust will be STD indexable insert drills. According to Mapal, key benefits of the new range, which are suitable for drilling up to 8xD, include good chip formation and removal, combined with error-free indexable insert replacement. Mapal's Tritan three-edge drills are said to allow high feed rates in challenging applications, such as the dry machining of aluminium, where conventional drills offer poor performance. Equally beneficial are the new OptiMill Silent milling cutters that have a cutting geometry designed to deliver vibration-free operation and are particularly suitable for machining thin-wall parts, says Mapal. The company's Unibase-M tool dispensing system is computer-controlled and can give either centralised or at-the-machine storage. It will also show Uniset-P, a new setting fixture designed with ergonomics in mind – its portal-type construction allows easy access to the setting systems on the tools. Here, the measuring camera and the backlight source are integrated into the pillars of the portal rather than being mounted on brackets, which means that they do not obstruct access to the tool. Finally, Mapal will show a new version of Tooltronic. This is a self-contained drive system providing a full NC axis that is incorporated into the machine control system. According to Mapal, all of the functions of modern CNC systems, such as interpolation and wear compensation, can be utilised. A key feature of the new Tooltronic version is a 90% reduction in physical size, making it an attractive retrofit option.