Heller launches five-axis machining centres

February 17th, 2010

Heller Machine Tools has announced the launch of its advanced F Series five-axis machining centres.

Following the recent introduction of the company’s H Series, the F Series adds four five-axis machining centres, containing SK 40 and HSK 63 spindle tapers, to the Heller range.

The new five-axis machining centre line-up enables potential customers to choose between two completely different machine configurations.

The premium models (FP 2000 and FP 4000) include the provision of rapid pallet changers and are designed to deliver excellent levels of productivity within all high-throughput engineering production environments.

The Heller FT 2000 and FT 4000 five-axis machine-tool variants feature workpiece support tables and are claimed to be suitable for use in production locations.

Both machine types, FP and FT, feature the same axis arrangement as the H series, with a rotary-table B axis, and provide an optimum balance between rigidity and accessibility, according to the company.

The 2000 models offer a work area of 630 x 630 x 830mm, while the two 4000 models provide an increased capacity of 800 x 800 x 1,000mm.

Although the machines use many components from Heller’s modular building-block system, the machine structure and axis configuration of the F Series were specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements of five-axis machining.

At the core of the F Series is the spindle technology.

Customers can choose between three different designs across all models: the PCU 63 power cutting universal spindle for high-performance cutting; the SCU 63 speed cutting unit; and the SCT 63 speed cutting tilt spindle for speed cutting with a fork head.

While the two swivel-head units offer advantages for the complete machining of cubic parts, the fork head is suitable for machining contoured surfaces of any kind.

The F Series has an adaptable tool management system that can be tailored to requirements.

Each machining centre is equipped with a standard tool magazine that can be extended to more than 400 storage places; even oversize or extra-long tools can be accommodated.

The F Series is targeted at a variety of manufacturing sectors, including the automotive industry and its supply chain, machine manufacturers, electronics companies, power generation, subcontractors and the aerospace industry.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/hel/hel172.html

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Integrated CAD/CAM has large mold parts library

January 5th, 2010

CAD/CAM software for mold designers introduces a design-centric, intelligent, parametric mold library that includes all of the common mold tool component types and cooling channels.

VX Corporation, the pioneering developer of advanced, integrated CAD/CAM solutions for engineers, designers and CNC programmers, announces the release of VX CAD/CAM Version 12.

Significant enhancements in VX Version 12 include new capabilities for mold and industrial designers, enhancements in light-source rendering, raster-to-vector conversion, surface analysis, assembly modeling, drawing layout and extended capabilities of VX’ integrated 2-5 axis CAM.

* Better tools for mold designers – VX Version 12 introduces a new design-centric, intelligent, parametric mold library that includes all of the common mold tool component types and cooling channels.

The library sports a very intuitive interface designed by mold designers for mold designers.

Also included is a new electrode design wizard that makes the 3D definition and 2D layout of electrodes fast and easy.

Other mold enhancements include better parting line gap checking with auto-zoom and wire frame-supported parting line entities.

Industrial Designers work Faster and Smarter For industrial designers, VX CAD/CAM just got better with the release of Version 12.

A new ‘Visualize’ toolbar is added with ‘easy-to-use’ texture mapping that allows designers to map external image files as textures on 2D or 3D surfaces.

This tool supports all popular image formats.

A new image-to-geometry (raster to vector) translator allows designers to import pictures and convert them to sketch geometry.

For engraving on solids and surfaces, a fast new ‘Inlay’ command applies a face inlay based on any wireframe geometry.

Reverse engineering with VX took a major step forward with many ‘Point Cloud’ enhancements.

360 deg surfaces are now supported.

A command to trim/divide point clouds to planes or surfaces has been added as well as the ability to slice/trim multiple point clouds simultaneously.

VX can also sub-divide large STL files to make the data easier to manipulate for reverse engineering or machining.

* CAM enhancements – Version 12 continues to extend the capabilities of its integrated 2-5 axis manufacturing solution referred to as VX CAM.

A new 5-axis isocut tool path tops the list as well as added side cut depth for the current 5-axis swarfcut operation.

3-axis CAM enhancements include new Link/LeadIn/LeadOut for Mill3, spiral and wave support for VX QuickMilling, dynamic shoulder and shank collision checking with automatic tool path correction, and more options for controlling 3-axis engraving.

Rest milling was added to the 2-axis suite of tool paths as well as direct 3D curve machining.

Other CAM enhancements include individual CAM output files, Fixture Offset Registers, Inter Path Move operations, Profile/Containment preview options, Solid Verify CL data or CNC code, and support for open surface boundaries and silhouettes in CAM profiles.

* Other enhancements – VX CAD/CAM Version 12 includes so many user enhancements that only a few can be mentioned here.

With new Assembly Light Sources, designers can create libraries of lighting fixtures that are inserted and positioned as assembly components.

A new method of creating assemblies using in-place modeling is also introduced.

VX can automatically extract each shape in a part as a component, turning the original multi-shape part into a multi-component assembly.

For many designers, this is an especially comfortable way to model assemblies.

‘On-the-fly’ gap detection and reporting builds confidence when designers need to clean up imported data.

Enhanced surface merging with better tangency control across boundary edges of merged faces promotes smoother and more ergonomic designs.

The many drawing layout enhancements include automated title block text using model attributes or variables, improved support for True Type Fonts, aligned cross-sections of trimmed parts and the ability to associate User-defined entities.

* About VX Corporation – VX Corporation is a pioneering developer of CAD/CAM solutions for industrial designers, engineers and CNC programmers.

VX enables speedy design with fully integrated, accurate manufacturing.

Using a blazing fast hybrid modeling engine, engineers can take advantage of the speed of solids with the flexibility of Class A surfaces.

Designers can create, modify, visualize, document and machine a vast array of parts and assemblies.

From the entry-level Modeler, to the complete End-to-End, VX delivers power, performance and productivity.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/vxc/vxc129.html

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Roller hold-down system used in CNC routing

January 5th, 2010

A roller hold-down system for Techno CNC Routers features 2in diameter urethane covered steel rollers with automatic roller lift and retracting for optimal pressure hold-down.

Techno is proud to introduce their new Model 60W roller hold-down system which operates with the Techno Premium Class CNC Router models.

It features (four) 2in diameter urethane covered steel rollers with automatic roller lift and retracting for optimal pressure hold-down.

Because the spindle positioning is placed in between the two sets of rollers, maximum downward force is being applied to the material, thus preventing part slippage.

Now two and three sheets of material can be processed together.

In an industry where time is everything, this system allows an even shorter manufacturing cycle time.

The Model 60W roller hold-down system is also designed with a 3in roller clearance, allowing for easy loading and unloading of materials.

Both sides of the machine are equipped with adjustable roller-end-of-travel actuators that are designed to activate sensors and signal the rollers to lift before the outer edge of the work piece.

These automated sensors prevent damage to both the roller hold-down system and the machine.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/toi/toi114.html

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JETCAM Signs Two Distributors for Syria, Lebanon

January 5th, 2010
JETCAM International s.a.r.l. today announced two new distributors for its range of CAM, nesting and automation products in Lebanon and Syria.

Kessmeyan Group, based in Beirut for 25 years and Rockwell Machinery, based in Damascus for 15 years provide a wide range of CNC machines covering sheet metal, milling, turning and wire EDM technologies, along with after-sales service and support.

Osama Jano, Managing Director for Rockwell Machinery commented; “JETCAM Expert gives our clients an ideal solution for sheet metal industry, regardless of the technology in use – all-in-one software, with very easy, unlimited and automated steps.”

Martin Bailey, Marketing Manager commented; “The used machine market has seen a considerable boost over the recession as manufacturers try to maximize their equipment expenditure while keeping costs low, however we are now seeing an increase in both new and used machinery sales. Rockwell and Kessmeyan are now well placed to provide scalable, automated solutions to their clients to give them a competitive advantage.”

http://www.tenlinks.com/news/PR/JETCAM/010410_var_lebanon.htm

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CNC Router designed for foam cutting

January 5th, 2010
CNC Router designed specifically for foam packaging and foam cutting applications has a standard 19in gantry clearance and a 24in Z-axis stroke – assuring maximum tool reach and clearance.

Techno is proud to announce a new CNC Router designed specifically for foam packaging and foam cutting applications.

This machine is available in three sizes (X-Y travel): 59in x 50in, 59in x 96in and 59in x 120in.

Techno’s new Foam Router comes standard with 19in gantry clearance and a Z-axis stroke of 24in assuring maximum tool reach and clearance.

Minimal floor space is required because the machine design includes a moving gantry which saves valuable shop space.

In addition, these new machines can be equipped with an automatic tool changer, vacuum table for increased part hold-down, reverse engineering probes or scanners, 4th axis rotary table, and much more.

All of Techno’s CNC Routers come with Techno’s own GCode Interface which accepts industry standard GCode from all CAD/CAM programs.

This easy to use Windows-based CNC Software features: infinite look ahead capability, production logging, toolpath editing and previewer, and free lifetime upgrades via the internet.

The best part of these new machines is the starting base price of US$23,900.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/toi/toi113.html

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