Heavy equipment machinery

A very compact universal CNC 3-axis milling machine for general machining is being offered at an unrivalled price-performance ratio, selling for under EUR 50,000

Emco Group, based in Austria, said it is widening the ‘design-to-cost philosophy’ into ‘designed to costs and market’, with its ongoing additions to its successful E25/45/65 milling machine series. The new Emcomill E 600 - a modular and compact design - is being offered at an ‘unrivalled price-performance ratio’.

The Emcomill E 600 is the result of a successful joint operation between Emco and its Italian subsidiary, Famup.

The CNC universal miller is offered for general machining as well as tool and prototype construction.

The Emco Group, in a report to manufacturingtalk.com, said it has created a new machine generation for the standard 3-axis machined parts production.

The Ecomill E 600 is available for EUR 49,990.- euros.

Managing director of the Emco group, Gerhard Glanz, said: ‘Presently, only cheap products from Taiwan and similar countries can be found on the market at these prices’.
Further reading

Wire-EDM cuts with high parallelism
Latest wire-EDM with Anti-Electrolysis generator is now digitally managed enabling it to control the vertical position of sparking to achieve highest parallelism on the workpiece

EDM helps boost prototypes manufacture
German prototype component manufacturer invested in die-sinking and wire EDM to enable it to work to high precision and meet tight delivery dates

Electron beams rapidly form metals parts
Developer of electron beam melting systems for the rapid manufacturing of metal parts is offering a larger, faster machine to build parts of 200 x 200 x 350mm or 300mm diameter by 200mm high

Basic specifications include maximum axis travels of 600mm (X), 500mm(Y) and 500mm (Z).

Rapid traverse speed is 24m/min and number of tools (standard) is 20.

In Emco’s ‘design-to-cost’ approach, all components that contribute to performance, precision and long duration of a machine are optimised, focussing at the same time on main functions for the user.

* Mechanical engineering without compromises - the Emcomill E 600 is designed as a very compact universal 3-axis machine for general machining.

The machine base, the support and all three slides are of massive cast design and form the basis for the robust machine structure.

The excellent damping properties of the cast material result in high surface qualities with ample cutting values, said Emco.

The roller guides with their parts that provide high support and stiffness values make the slides traverse precisely and without jerking.

The tool turret is designed as a very quick two-arm turret as a standard.

Tool changing times of 1.6s facilitate more than quick change to other tools and thus ensure production that saves time and costs.

* Modular structure - the highly proven modular concept allows machine customisation.

The main modules are as follows.

Spindle variants are available as, following.

* Basic version - 10,000 rev/min with direct drive (Siemens CNC) or 8,000 rev/min with direct drive (Fanuc CNC).

* 12,000 rev/min with direct drive as a variant for internal coolant supply.

* 15,000 rpm as motor spindle version.

* Tool magazine.

In the basic version the tool magazine (drum magazine) contains 20 tools.

Upon request the drum magazine can be expanded to 30 tools.

* Control options - the customer may choose between a Siemens 810D and the Fanuc 0i.

* chip removal - the standard design consists of a chip tray with simple lateral chip removal.

For automatic chip removal a chip conveyor can be integrated as a module into the machine structure.

* coolant supply - the coolant supply is carried out via lateral nozzles at the spindle nose.

As an option, an internal high-pressure coolant supply through the spindle and tool may be chosen.

* Round table/4th axis - for 4-axis applications a robust round table with a diameter of 200mm, resolution up to 0.001 deg and NC interpolation is available.

* Options - Emco offers to the customer a standard selection of accessories for the new Emcomill E 600, as follows.

Measuring sensor for tool or workpiece measurement.

Hand wheel.

Band filter.

Cleaning nozzle.

Alarm lamp.

Blow-out device.

Chip flushing.

Automatic door system.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/hkt/hkt133.html 

Very compact CNC milling machines re small enough to fit through a 914 mm doorway, and can easily be moved with a pallet jack or equipment dolly

Haas Automation said at EMO 2007 that more and more industries are discovering the advantages of CNC machining, but many are unable to fit a ‘normal’ CNC machine into their facility. The OM series ‘Office Mills’ CNC milling machines solve the problem said Haas Automation. These ultra-compact machines are small enough to fit through a 914mm doorway, and can easily be moved with a pallet jack or equipment dolly.

With their small size and light weight, the OM machines fit into most freight elevators, and with the optional caster kit, they can be rolled from one location to another.

The machines run on single-phase power (240V AC).

The OM-1 features a work envelope of 205 x 205 x 205mm (X, Y, Z).
Further reading

Turning centres have longer machine beds
To satisfy a growing demand to provide CNC turning centres with longer beds, two long bed versions of existing machines were introduced at EMO 2007

CNC lathe with sub-spindle and VMC for car maker
Buggy manufacturer Rage invested in a Haas TL-25 CNC lathe with sub-spindle and a Haas VF-2 CNC vertical machining centre, partly because of after-sales service

The OM-2 has a work envelope of 305 x 255 x 305mm, providing more capacity in the same footprint.

Both machines feature a 510 x 255mm T-slot table, and are equipped with a 50,000 rev/min brushless micro-motor spindle that accepts tools up to 6mm shank size.

For higher-production work and added flexibility, the OM-1A and OM-2A are available, which feature a Haas-designed and -built ISO 20-taper spindle (30,000 rev/min) and 20-pocket automatic tool changer.

Maximum cutting feeds for all OM models are 12.7m/min, with rapids up to 19.2m/min for reduced cycle times.

The user-friendly Haas control makes set up and operation simple.

Standard equipment includes a floppy disk drive, 1MB of program memory, a coolant system, automatic lubrication and high-speed machining software with full look-ahead.

A number of high-productivity options are also available.

For full 4- and/or 5-axis operation, Haas has designed a pair of ultra-compact rotary tables that fit easily into the work envelope of the Office Mills.

The HRT 110 is a single-axis rotary table, and the TR 110 is a dual-axis trunnion table.

Both units index at up to 300 deg/s, and provide 88Nm of spindle torque for simultaneous 4- or 5-axis machining.

They each feature a 110mm platter that accepts a variety of workholding and fixturing options.

For ‘office’ shops needing turning capabilities, Haas offers the equally compact OL-1 Office Lathe.

It features a 3.7kW (peak) spindle that spins to 6,000 rev/min.

The 5C threaded spindle accepts a number of optional chucks, and is equipped with a pneumatic collet closer.

The machine’s high-speed cross slide has travels of 305 x 200mm (X, Z), and accepts a variety of gang-style tooling.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/has/has144.html 

An advanced 5-axis profile machine centre will be shown at MACH 2008 and is capable of drilling, routing, tapping, cutting and notching in aluminium and steel

At MACH 2008, Elumatec will be showing its prolific range of profile cutting machines, saws, and copy routers. ‘Companies that cut and route aluminium and steel for a variety of needs, have to be assured that the machinery that they use is reliable, efficient and cost effective,’ said Phil Heavey, managing directorr of Elumatec.

We can offer intelligent, automated machinery for a massive range of applications where the fashioning of metal is required’.

Demonstrating Elumatec’s cutting edge technology in aluminium and steel fabrication will be the advanced SBZ151 5-axis profile machine centre.

It is capable of drilling, routing, tapping, cutting and notching.

The SAS142 represents the company’s extensive range of automatic saws suitable for cutting high-volumes of aluminium profiles for window manufacturing and industrial applications.

The SLK118 copy router will also be on display.

‘Our products have massive potential to enhance and improve the production processes involved in all areas of the industrial market, involving metal working and fabrication, and this has been proved by our diverse and ever-growing customer base,’ said Heavey.

‘As the foremost show in the industry, MACH 2008 provides the perfect forum for us to display our comprehensive product range and to demonstrate the unbeatable versatility, reliability and speed of some of our most popular machines.

Expert advice will also be on hand throughout the show and we relish this exciting opportunity to educate the engineering and manufacturing technologies sector in the advanced capabilities of our machinery’.

* Elumatec at MACH 2008, NEC, Birmingham, UK, April 21-25, Hall 5, Stand 5574.

 CNC machines are used in a variety of industrial settings and in woodworking shops. Most are out of the price range for the individual user, but can be purchased used for about half the price. These machines increase speed and accuracy when doing large jobs or repetitive tasks.

How CNC Machines Work

CNC machines are used in a variety of industry, manufacturing processes and woodworking shops. CNC routers are used for drilling holes. Some machines have the capability of holding several tools. This allows them to perform more than one operation at a time. They save time and improve accuracy.

CNC stands for Computer Numerated Control. This technology was first seen in the 1970s. The machines need to be programmed and set up properly before operation. Once the initial set up is completed, they are fairly easy to operate and keep running.

In CNC routers, they can be programmed to drill holes in an automatic fashion. This is faster and more accurate over several pieces than in manual drilling. The results are more uniform. This method is very beneficial for larger jobs that require a lot of drilling. Manual drilling can become tiring and when the operator becomes tired, the results can become inconsistent.

Types of CNC Machines

A CNC lathe is a good piece of equipment for cutting wood. These come in models ranging from fifteen to forty horsepower. The amount of power you need depends on the amount of wood you will use with the lathe. The best models operate in several different modes, from completely manual to all CNC. This allows you to tailor the machine’s operation for each project.

A Bridgeport mill is the best in milling technology. Mills are used in many industries, both large and small shops. They are efficient and reliable. Bridgeport mills are built to last a lifetime. However, they are very expensive. The price is out of the range that most people can afford.

The CNC mill is a specialty piece of equipment. It uses computer programming and robotics for accurate operation. The results are more accurate than any person could ever achieve. For this reason, Bridgeport mills are often used in the airline industry. Once the specs are entered, the CNC decides which tools need to be used and automatically changes the tools as needed.

Engraving equipment is made to engrave a variety of materials including glass, stone, metal, wood, composites and many others. The machines mark and engrave with more accuracy than could ever be achieved by hand. Everything from large signs to small lettering can be done, depending on your needs.

Buying Used units

CNC equipment is very expensive and out of the price range of most people. Buying used CNC electronics is an affordable option for some people. You can save nearly 50% or more on some equipment. Be careful when buying used, you want to be sure the equipment is in good condition.

A better option is to look for refurbished equipment. These machines have been inspected at the factory. Any broken or damaged components are replaced. In many cases, the machine is painted and new decals are applied. It’s like getting a new machine for a significantly reduced price. Often, you will get a one year warranty with reconditioned equipment. This gives you time to be sure it is working properly and if not, you can get it fixed for free.

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Charles Mahoney publishes many articles for the website www.inside-woodworking.com . He writes on topics from CNC technologies and other areas in this field.

 CNC stand for Computer Numerical Control, and refers specifically to the computer control of machine tools. The main purpose of CNC Milling Machines is to repeatedly manufacture complex parts in metal as well as other materials, using a specially coded program. This specially coded program that is used by CNC Milling machines is written in a notation called G-code. G-codes represent specific CNC Milling functions in alphanumeric format. CNC Milling was developed in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s by the MIT Servomechanism Laboratory.

1. About CNC

- Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling is the most common form of CNC
- CNC mills can perform the functions of drilling and often turning
- CNC Milling machines are classified according to the number of axes that they possess
- Axes are labeled as x and y for horizontal movement, and z for vertical movement
- The evolution of CNC milling machines drastically changed the manufacturing industry
- Curves are as easy to cut as straight lines, complex 3-D structures are relatively easy to produce, and the number of machining steps that required human action is way down.

2. The Fabrication Process

With the use of CNC milling machine the fabrication process of the materials have been trimmed down to just a couple of steps. CNC Milling machines now days are driven directly from computer softwares crated by CAD software packages. With the use CNC Milling machines the assembly of parts can go from brief designs without any intermediate paper drawing works being required. In one sense, with the use of CNC milling machines industrials tasks are done must easier and much faster and the production cost of the company is also lessening out. CNC machines may be said to represent special industrial robot systems, as they are programmable to perform any kind of machining operation, within certain physical limits, like other robotic systems.

3. Buying Tips

Before buying a CNC milling machine it is a must that you should have knowledge about the CNC milling machines basic parts. A CNC milling machine is basically composed of a Safety shield that is usually a clear plastic cover that cover and protects the cutting area. The Tool bit, this part of the CNC milling machines is the one that do the cutting. Spindle Shaft, is the part that holds the tool bit. Spindle Motor, is the part of the CNC milling machine that drives the cutter. The Vertical Column, the part that holds the spindle and all of its part. The Cross Side, a moveable support where the work piece is being cut. The axis motors, which moves the cross side into different axis and the Controller box.

When purchasing your milling machine make sure to check that you have all of this part intact on your CNC milling machine, for if one of this parts is not there it will not surely work or will produce an undesirable end product. Also see to it to check out for safety features, never buy a CNC milling machine without an emergency stop button, this button automatically stops machining when it is pressed. Human, hardware or software errors could mean big losses if the CNC cannot be stopped quickly enough to correct the problem. Also check out the control panel part, it is advisable to buy one with a big control guide sticker so you can clearly see it.

Also check out the screws and tools with long overhangs and adapters, be more observant about cracks and breaks on this CNC milling tools. Make sure that the plastic shield that you are purchasing with your CNC milling machine is made up of high impact polycarbonate plastic. An insert break loose from a 35 mm diameter CNC milling cutter at a spindle speed of 45,000 rpm will be thrown out at a speed of 90 meters per second - equivalent to a bullet that is being shot out of a pistol!

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

For more great cnc milling machine related articles and resources check out http://www.cnc-advisor.com 

A CNC Rotary table is a piece of CNC milling equipment used for precision metalworking. It is similar than a dividing head or indexing head except that it is fixed to be used in only two planes, the horizontal plane and the vertical plane. A CNC Rotary table is used for CNC milling and is made up of a solid base that has proper provisions for clamping metal material on tables and other kinds of equipment. The table of this CNC milling equipment is a precision machined disc that also has provision to clamp materials in it, that is aided with a T slot. This CNC milling equipment can rotate by itself or be controlled by a worm or a handheld operational control. 1. Extreme Accuracy A graduated dial and a vernier scale allow this rotary table to be positioned to a high degree of accuracy. The center of CNC milling equipment has hole that allows a morse taper center or fixture to be inserted. A tailstock is usually provided if the rotary table can be mounted from its end, so that the axis will be horizontal. The most common use of this CNC milling equipment is on it vertical axis that in this mode is on the same plane as the cutter when it is used on a milling machine. 2. Coaxial Design If the CNC rotary table is mounted on a secondary table the work piece is adjusted in the center around the rotary tables axis, in this position the work piece is centered around the cutting tools axis; this make all three axis coaxial. Making a way for the secondary table to be offset in either the x or y plane so that the cutter is pitched at a distance from the work piece’s center allowing a simultaneous operations on the work piece. 3. Specialized Or General? There are literally hundreds of CNC milling equipments available on the market today with different specifications and different additional features. They come in all types of shapes and sizes. Some are designed for specific applications, while others are more of general purposes in nature. When looking for the right CNC rotary tables, try to talk to people who already using this kind of equipments from them you can learn how this things work. The good thing about talking to this people is that you will gain information not based on industrial propagandas but on experience and uses of there CNC milling equipments. You can also visit a shop in your area so that you will ly see on how CNC rotary tables work. You can eve try to use one CNC milling equipment to know how it feels. You can also attend CNC seminars to be able to gain professional views about his matters and also do not forget to check online information sites. 4. Setting Up Shop When setting up your CNC rotary tables make sure that the platform is stable and your CNC milling machine secure. Setting up your CNC milling machines is a critical issue to early success, the less movement that occur the better. The right material to be used should also be thought about when using this kind of CNC milling machines. Determine the right thickness and sizes of your materials. Also look for proper fixtures for your CNC milling machines, for this will save time, money and frustration when using your CNC rotary tables. Before going into production, make a plan to test the different variables you need to work with for a period of time. Getting familiar with your machine is also a critical issue for success. Try to make familiar with the different types of cut, type of materials to be cut, the table type, the depths of cut, the feed rates and the type and sizes of bits that you will be utilizing. Feel around the machine but not literally though for it may I injure you. 5. Satefy Make sure to read your manuals and have a thorough understanding about the safety measures and the different features of your CNC milling machines. Have a good idea on how this things works. On what it can do to make your business prosper and also on how it can harm your employees.

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

For more great cnc rotary table related articles and resources check out http://www.onlyrotary.com