NCMT (hall 4, stand A14), the UK agent for Japan-based Makino's machine tool products, will present two new machines for efficient production of titanium parts at Farnborough: T4 and T2. Makino claims that its T-Series machines can combine the roughing capacity of a 4-axis machine with 5-axis finishing capability.
The working envelope of the T4 is 4,200mm x 2,000mm x 1,000mm and axis feed rates are up to 16 m/min, allowing the production of sizeable airframe parts such as bulkheads, edge frames and pylons. The machine's HSK-A125, integral-drive spindle is Makino's most powerful to date, providing 1,000Nm of continuous torque (1,500Nm peak), 150 kW of power and a tool clamping force of 10 tonnes. It also claims that metal removal rates of up to 500cm3 can be achieved, five times faster than the industry average.
The more compact Makino T2, which has XYZ travels of 2,000mm x 2,000 x 1,600mm, is available in two versions. The first is similar to the T4 with an identical A/C-axis spindle but with additional table indexing, and the second has a spindle with A-axis movement only, the table and 1.25m by 1.25m pallet performing the B-axis movement. On the grinding side of the business, NCMT will also be promoting its VIPER creep-feed system, which it claims is a major advance in production technology and capable of stock removal rates up to eight times those achievable when conventionally grinding nickel alloys using a plated CBN wheel. Broaching, milling and turning operations can also be eliminated using the VIPER superabrasive process.
The latest development in this area is the introduction of the Makino i-Grinder G5, a purpose-built, 5-axis machine designed specifically to exploit the technology to the full. It is 10% quicker at machining nickel alloy components than the modified Makino A55 machining centre that it supersedes.
www.ncmt.co.uk
