The HU63EX horizontal machining center from Mitsui Seiki is designed to boost metalworking productivity. The machine offers X-, Y- and Z-axis positioning with repeatability accuracy of ±0.001 mm (±0.00004" or one micron). B-axis accuracy is ±2 sec. with repeatability of ±1 sec. rotating the 25.5-in.2 (630-mm2) pallet. X-, Y- and Z-axis travels measure 36" × 32" × 32" (900 × 800 × 800 mm).
The 50-taper, 6,000-rpm spindle offers 18.5/15-kW (24.7/20-hp) power with 601 Nm (443 foot-pounds) of torque delivered through a two-step gearbox. Optional spindles include a 6,000-rpm, 26/22-kW (34.8/29.4-hp) unit with 1,081 Nm (797 foot-pounds) of torque and a three-step gearbox, and a 12,000-rpm, 30/25-kW (40/33.5-hp) version with 420 Nm (309 foot-pounds) of torque driven by an integral, built-in motor.
The machining center’s bed is a single casting supported at three points to minimize the effect of foundation fluctuations on accuracy. A thickened structure and rib configurations provide high rigidity. The boxway mating surfaces, rotary axis mounting, ballscrew mounting points and spindle attachment surfaces are hand-scraped for improved parallelism, squareness and straightness. Air cavities between the ways and the column mating surfaces are charged with low-pressure air to reduce the load on the way surface and enable smooth movement, the company says.
Without an international standard for designating carbide grades or application ranges, users must rely on relative judgments and background knowledge for success.
Once seen as a specialty machine tool, the CNC Swiss-type is increasingly being used in shops that are full of more conventional CNC machines. For the newcomer to Swiss-type machining, here is what the learning curve is like.
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