Published 2/19/2013

New Machines and Automation at Pfronten

Here’s some of what one editor saw at DMG/Mori Seiki’s 2013 open house in Pfronten, Germany.

Derek Korn

Executive Editor, Modern Machine Shop

Approximately 500 hours of hand scraping help the new Dixi 210 P from DMG/Mori Seiki achieve a volumetric accuracy of 35 microns for the exact machining of large components to 8,000 kg.

The multi-axis Dixi machine offers an X-Y-Z work area of 1,800 x 2,100 x 1,250 mm.

This DMU 125 FD Monoblock universal machining center is one of six world-premier machines introduced at the Pfronten event. Its FD table offers rotational speed of 500 rpm and maximum torque of 5,400 Nm for turning or milling of workpieces as heavy as 2,000 kg (optional to 2,600 kg with tandem drive).

This robot-tended toolchanging module can be used with machines such as the large DMU 600 P shown being assembled in the background.

The company’s Matrix tool storage magazine combines a rack and wheel magazine to provide machines with access to 549 tools in just 8.6 m² of space.

The WH 10 automation unit is shown performing workpiece probing and loading operations on an NLX 2500 SY.

Similarly, this WH 10 unit enables unattended operation of a DMC 835V VMC by pairing a robot with a workpiece palletizing system.

The Lasertec 210 is the company’s third largest of this machine type, enabling five-axis milling and laser texturing of molds on one machine in one setup.

The Lasertec enables mold makers, for example, to produce a variety of surface finish textures and designs for their molds.

The Spindle Interface System enables automatic recognition of contamination such as chips between an HSK tool and spindle interface for higher process reliability and workpiece surface finish.

The large crowd at this event made it challenging for editors like me to capture good machining photos. More than 1,000 attended the first day of the event at the company’s Deckel Maho facility in Pfronten.

In late January 2013, I attended day one of DMG/Mori Seiki’s open house at its Deckel Maho production facility in Pfronten, Germany. That day there were more than 1,000 attendees who toured the production facility and saw the 70 machines on display (including six world premiers). There also was a wealth of automation solutions on hand, and attendees could see presentations on manufacturing topics that included automation as well as aerospace and automotive.

Check out the slideshow below to see a handful of shots from the event.