Hwacheon to display T2-YSMC at EMO 2009

Hwacheon, of South Korea, will showcase new machine tools at this year's EMO exhibition.

The company will exhibit its eight-axis T2-YSMC turning centre, complete with full-length magazine bar loader and lights-out automatic running package.

The T2-YSMC features twin 8in-diameter hydraulic chucks, upper and lower twin-turret arrangements with Y-axis and driven-tool facility.

The machine is equipped with automatic tool setting/breakage detect probing, automatic parts catcher and full parts un-loader conveyor.

The machine has 20kW direct-drive main-drive motors to both spindles and super-fast indexing and servo turrets with 7.5kW driven-tool drive motor.

This particular model forms part of the multi-axis six-model T2 series range, which will soon be joined by a large-capacity T3 and T4 series portfolio.

A further new model, the Hi-Tech 70/26 heavy-duty oil-country slant bed lathe will also be on show for the first time in Europe during the EMO exhibition.

This machine is based on the Hi-Tech 700 heavy-duty slant bed lathe but features a large through-bore headstock and chucking arrangement suitable for oil-country work.

It has a 300mm spindle bore, 24in three-jaw hydraulic chuck, 2m between-centre bed arrangement with heavy-duty tailstock and is equipped with powerful 12-station high clamping force turret.

The Hi-Tech 70/26 features a Fanuc 18iTB CNC system complete with on-board manual-guide CAP system with colour graphics.

At EMO, the Hi-Tech 70/26 will produce a typical large-diameter aerospace component.

The VT1150MC Vertical Lathe is equipped with C-axis-to-main-spindle and powerful driven-tool turret arrangement.

The machine is equipped with a 40in hydraulic three-jaw chuck with a compensating jaw feature and a turning length of 950mm and main drive of 60HP.

One of Hwacheon's most popular sub spindle/driven tool turning centres, the Cutex 240BSMC will be exhibited at EMO complete with short magazine bar loader, automatic parts conveyor and 'lights out' turning package.

The Cutex 240BSMC is equipped with an 8in diameter three-jaw chuck, has a turning length of 565mm and features a fast indexing servo turret with BMT-style heavy-duty driven-tool holders.

The CNC system is the Fanuc 18iTB and features Hwacheon's novel machine diagnostic software.

Also on display at EMO on the Hwacheon booth will be an example of the Sirius UL double-column high-power vertical machining centres, which will be demonstrated machining an automotive die component.

The Sirius UL has an axis travel of X=1050mm, Y=600mm and Z=550mm.

It features a 25kW direct-driven high-power spindle with 20,000 rev/min maximum spindle-speeds and is controlled by a Fanuc 18iMB CNC system.

Dah Lih Machinery, a vertical machining centre manufacturer from Taiwan, will exhibit three models from its 'C' frame machining centre product portfolio.

Shown for the first time in Europe will be the model MCV-860 vertical machining centre, which was launched last year on the home market and is now available in Europe.

The MCV-860 model is a rigid high-performance 'C' frame vertical machining centre with axes travels of X=860mm, Y=550mm and Z=550mm.

The machine is equipped as standard with high-power through-spindle coolant, a tool-setting probe/tool breakage detect system, bed wash and chip auger conveyor system.

It is controlled by the latest Fanuc 0iMD system complete with manual guide and colour graphics.

Also on display will be the heavy-duty MCV-1450 BT50 spindle vertical machining centre, which has axes travels of X=1450mm, Y=750mm and Z=750mm and features a heavy-duty box guideways structure, ideal for powerful machining performance.

The machine is equipped with the same standard equipment as the MCV-860 and complete with 30HP main-drive motor (twin range gearbox), 6,000 rev/min maximum spindle speeds and 32-tool ATC.

Completing the line-up of machines available from Dah Lih will be the MCV-1200 high performance, high-speed spindle vertical machining centre.

This model has axes travels of X=1200mm, Y=600mm and Z=500mm; 15000 rev/min maximum spindle-speed arrangement; 32 tool ATC and high rapid traverse of 30m/min.

Retrofit CNC can double turret miller output

A popular and proven CNC controller, enabling users to at least double their machining output, is now available as a retrofit package for most turret millers.

XYZ Machine Tools has announced that the popular and proven ProtoTRAK Edge CNC controller is now available as a retrofit package.

Whilst DROs are undoubtedly old technology - they have been around for more than thirty years - they are still proving popular because they can easily and inexpensively be retrofitted to existing conventional machines and productivity be significantly enhanced.

The ProtoTRAK Edge controller is as easily retrofitted to most turret mills and conventional knee mill but provides far greater productivity - typically output can be doubled and in some applications trebled, and can parts can be produced which cannot be attempted economically on a manual mill.

It provides 2 axis CNC control and up to 4 axis DRO display.

The ProtoTRAK Edge uses plain English conversational programming, so the operator does not need any CNC experience to use it.

Only part geometry has to be defined; the controller defines the tool path automatically.

Using the teach option, the operator can turn manual moves into programmed events automatically.

The Edge controller accepts CAM data from all the top brands of software.

Set up is easy and simple.

Canned cycles include profiles, arcs, pockets, holes and frames.

19 maths help routines enable the operator to quickly and easily calculate intersections, tangencies, centres etc, and are far easier to use than either a calculator or trig.

A parts library can be built up easily using the floppy drive; programs can be shared with other ProtoTRAK controllers.

The retrofit ProtoTRAK can be installed either by XYZ installation engineers or by a customer themselves.

The kit includes the controller, motors, ballscrews, cables, brackets and table guards.

A half day training - all that is needed - at any one of XYZ's premises is included.

Parts warranty is for twelve months; if XYZ engineers install the retrofit a twelve months labour warranty is also included.

Delivery is three weeks from order.

The retrofit ProtoTRAK Edge is available from GBP 6,950.00.

US firm awards CNC retrofit contract to HNC

UK Pratt and Whitney has awarded a GBP 980,000 rebuild and CNC retrofit contract to HNC in the UK, for refurbishing six large machine tools to be used in China.

Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) has won, against fierce international competition from companies in the USA, Sweden and Holland, a GBP 980,000 contract from aero engine builder Pratt and Whitney, USA, to rebuild six large machine tools and retrofit them with new CNC systems.

Directors at HNC (Halifax Numerical Controls), Mike Diskin and Tim Price, said it was the largest ever order won by the company so far.

Pratt and Whitney (P and W) was looking for machines for a new venture in China.

It initially looked at buying new but considered good quality rebuilt ones as better value.

P and W bought the assets of the now defunct Volvo aero engine maintenance factory in Stockholm, Sweden.

The deal included a number of quality machine tools, as follows.

* Two Dorries and one Schiess vertical turning lathes.

* A VAES vertical grinder.

* A Union 5-axis horizontal borer.

* A Deckel FP6 machining centre.

P and W then searched through Europe and the US for a company capable of refurbishing them.

HNC got the job and said that all machines will have new electrics fitted throughout and retrofitted with the latest GE-Fanuc Oi controllers, servos and drives.

HNC managing director, Mike Diskin, said: "it has been something of a tense time for us over the past couple of months, we knew it was going to be tough, but we won through in the end".

He added: "We believe we won the order because of our reputation for service and the quality we build into all re-manufactured machines, combined with our vast in-house CNC knowledge and competitive pricing".

HNC has already begun the work, which has to be completed within a tight schedule and delivered by November 2008.

HNC will fully test, export pack and dispatch the machines to Pratt and Whitney's Chinese joint venture company - Pratt and Whitney Shanghai Aircraft Engine Maintenance Co HNC personnel will install and commission the machine tools.

* About HNC - HNC specialises in the rebuild and refurbishment of quality machine tools with many major customers for example, they include Cummins, Gardener Aerospace, De Smet Group and the Weir Group.

In addition to being main distributors and retrofitters for major control system manufacturers GE-Fanuc, Heidenhain, Siemens and NUM, HNC also has full machine tool design and bespoke software writing capabilities.