South-Tec2000: Cincinnati Machine Goes Digital for VMCs and Turning Centers

Arrow VMC-1250 and Hawk TC-200M will be shown in Booth #1827

Cincinnati Machine, A UNOVA Company, is displaying its 5-axis Arrow VMC-1250 at South-Tec2000, in Booth #1827, in Charlotte, NC, this week. The Arrow VMC-1250 incorporates the latest technology in vector servos, scales, and low-friction guideways, offering the highest levels of accuracy, while pushing the machining envelope with advanced techniques and processes.

The Arrow VMC-1250 comes standard with glass scales on the X- and Y-axes giving positioning accuracies of ±0.00011 in. (±3 µ) and repeatability of ±0.00004 in. (1 µ). The Arrow's PC-based, open-architecture, Cincinnati A2100 CNC control offers multi-tasking with a dual-processor design. The components have been upgraded to Pentium processors for high-speed processing of 5-axis code, as well as Cincinnati Machine's proven 5-axis machining macros developed over 25 years as the industry leader in 5-axis machining installations.

Cincinnati has recently teamed with companies such as Koma Precision, Wellite Industries, and Chapman Racing Heads, providing the opportunity to showcase the latest technology in cylinder head porting. The result has delivered the highest quality rotary tables and special fixtures to top racing professionals throughout the industry.

Multitasking on Hawk M-Class turning centers

The same digital revolution that has overtaken the Arrow VMCs has been brought to round-part processing in the standard package provided on Cincinnati Machine's new line of Hawk M-Class CNC Turning Centers. Combining all-digital vector servos and feedback with rotary tool efficiencies brings greater throughput and micron-level accuracies to the processing of round parts.

Available in 6-in., 8-in. and 10-in. models, the M-Class Hawks combine the benefits of digital vector servo-axis drives, digital Heidenhain X-axis linear scales, and live rotary tooling capability. Machine design also includes the latest maintenance-free linear-guideway technology to provide sliding friction 1/50th that of conventional guideways, significantly reducing stick-slip to ensure smoother processing a±0.000040" micron-level repeatability.

The servo-driven 12-station VDI turret provides bi-directional indexing. Turret indexing can occur on-the-fly without disengaging the drive. This results in rapid 0.3 of a second chip-to-chip time, which will be demonstrated on the Model TC-200M at South-Tec 200 in Booth $1827. All turret stations have live tooling capability, allowing users to mix and match static or powered tools for milling, drilling, tapping, and boring operations. This multitasking capability improves surface-to-surface part accuracies while virtually eliminating secondary machining operations and optimizing part-processing flexibility with one setup/one machine throughput efficiencies. It also saves the cost of redundant tooling and even the need for redundant machines.

Along with these features, the standard main spindle has a full-contouring C-axis drive with resolution of 0.001°, making the Hawk ideal for milling, drilling, boring, and tapping work. To get the tool in-cut faster, the C-axis drive can be engaged while the spindle is turning. Rapid traverse rates are 944 ipm (24 m/min) in the Z axis and 630 ipm (16 m/min) in the X axis. A hydraulically actuated brake mechanism on the main drive spindle ensures maximum rigidity to withstand high cutting forces.

Large thru-hole capacity allows processing 2" (51 mm) diameter bar stock on the Hawk TC-150M, 2.5" (65 mm) on the TC-200M and 3" (77 mm) on the TC-300M. Maximum swing on the TC-150M is 20.47" (520 mm), 24.40" (620 mm) on the TC-200M and 26.77" (680 mm) on the TC-250M.

All Hawk models feature a hydraulically actuated chuck powered by single-range gearless spindle drive. Compared with conventional V-belt drive turning centers, side loads on the Hawk spindle motor and bearings are virtually eliminated by a special toothed-belt drive. High-torque spindle drive motors deliver full 10 hp (7.5 kW) with 52 ft lb torque at 750 rpm on the TC-150M; full 20 hp with 103 ft lb torque at 750 rpm on the TC-200M; full 25 hp with 221 ft lb torque at 575 rpm on the TC-250M.

The digital Hawk M-Class has a cast iron base reinforced at key points for optimum stiffness and vibration damping. Chip removal efficiency is facilitated by the machines 45-deg slant bed design. A tailstock with programmable quill is standard on the TC-200M and 250M, optional on the TC-150M.

Cincinnati Machine's new family of digital Hawk turning centers is standard with the GE Fanuc 21i-TA CNC. This computer control is ideal for shops already running on the Fanuc platform as it is compatible with previous and current generation Fanuc technologies. It also offers rapid and user-friendly machine-to-machine and machine-to-PC communications.

Hawk options include a parts catcher, automatic tool setter, high-pressure coolant, barfeed interface, bar puller, collet chuck, plug-in footswitch, and chip conveyor. This allows Hawk turning centers to meet wide user processing requirements, ranging from simple two-axis chucking applications to advanced, fully-automated bar turning.

Cincinnati Machine is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of CNC machine tools, such as horizontal and vertical machining centers, modular machining cells and turning centers, specialized machine tools and advanced composites processing systems.

Cincinnati Machine, A UNOVA Company, 4701 Marburg Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45209-1086; phone: 877-CINMACH