Last week I visited Mazak in Florence, Kentucky, to attend its “Machining Technologies for Global Competitiveness” event. I spent the first day in the company’s National Technology Center. The machine tools in the showroom were set up to show applications particularly well suited for the various lathes, mills and multi-tasking machines. Interspersed were several tabletop exhibitors who have partnered with this builder to develop significant machining enhancements. Technical presentations and plant tours were also offered.

The Versatech V-140 N does not require a change of heads to move from vertical to horizontal machining, thus it cuts non-productive time and can produce contoured and five-faced parts in one setup.

Among the machines on display was the Integrex i-150, being shown in the USA for the first time. This is a compact, multi-tasking machine for complex small parts (bar stock 2.5 inches in diameter and smaller) for medical and aerospace applications. One way it saves space is by using a swing-away workholding device instead of a second spindle. When a part is ready for cutoff, the workholding device swings up to clamp the part. After cutoff, the device swings downs 90 degrees with the workpiece in its grip. The milling spindle can now machine the back face of the part to finish it in one setup. When the workpiece is unloaded, the device swings out the way to clear the machining zone. It can also act as an NC tailstock in its upright position.

The Integrex i-150 has a swing away tailstock that also acts as a part gripper for end working of parts after cutoff.

This machine is also the first of what the company calls its “Intelligent Machines.” The intelligent functions include Active Vibration Control, Intelligent Safety Shield, Intelligent Thermal Shield, Intelligent Performance Spindle, Voice Adviser, Intelligent Maintenance Support, and Intelligent Balance Analyzer.

The most interesting tabletop was a system for honing on a lathe. See the Inbox Insight below for more details.

On the second day, I attended a formal press conference. One announcement caused a bit of a stir. Mazak will be installing a locator detector on its machine tools. The detector will prevent the machine from being operated if it is moved from its original destination. A password must be obtained from the builder to restart the machine. The idea is to prevent high-end machine tools from surreptitiously entering forbidden markets in violation of export controls.

The day included a tour of the company’s machine tool manufacturing facilities. I could say, “Been there, done that” but there’s always some new twist to machining, fabricating or assembly that makes these tours worthwhile. This tour’s highlight was a glimpse of the newly installed double-column Versatech V-140N with a 122-inch by 393-inch table, one of the largest machine tools that Mazak produces. With a nutating head that includes B- and C-axis positioning on a 50-Hp spindle, it will improve machining productivity on large castings such as beds and columns. Five more machines like this are on order. Eventually, the six new machines will replace nine older machining centers.

According to the company, more than 2500 attended the three-day event