Westec2000: Mazak Cuts the Ribbon on its Kentucky-Built 50-Taper VMC

Rick Ware, VP-marketing, Advantec Division, Mazak Corporation(Florence, KY) cut the ribbon and introduced the company's newest vertical machining center, The VTC-200/50, with a #50 taper spindle. The 50-taper spindle with top speed of 6000 rpm allows the use of large cutting tools for greater work capacity and productivity.

With the VTC-200/50's new two-speed gearbox, the 20-hp standard spindle motor can deliver 280 ft lb of torque while an optional 30-hp motor offers 488 ft lb of torque for the heaviest cutting of steel or cast iron. The VTC-200/50 is designed to minimize non-cutting time, further increasing process throughput with rapid traverse rates of 1181 ipm for all axes.

Tool-to-tool change time is 2 seconds. The tool magazine holds 24 tools with a maximum tool diameter of 4.13 in. (with adjacent tools). Two chip-flushing areas on each side of the table have increased slopes allowing easy chip flow away from the machining area.

Positioning accuracy is ±0.0002 in. and repeatability is ±0.00006 in. The VTC-200/50 is designed for machining applications that require high torque cutting. A combination 2-speed motor and gearbox features low gear ratio for high cutting torque; high gear ratio for 6000 rpm cutting; and high/low gear switchable by M-code.

Control is supplied by the Mazatrol Fusion 640 CNC control with conversational programming. PC technology is incorporated into the Mazak Mazatrol CNC so that the VTC's operation can be monitored in real time and networked with an office PC.

Mazak Corp, 8025 Production Drive, P.O. Box 970, Florence, KY 41022-0970; phone: 606-342-1700