Machining

A vertical-spindle machining centre has been introduced by Spinner, which despite having a working envelope of 1,650x820x820mm, occupies a relatively small footprint on the shop floor of 3,550x2,750mm. Its compactness is a result of employing a novel method for protecting the 1,800x820mm table’s X and Y axis guideways from swarf and coolant ingress using a single wiper system and without recourse to telescopic covers.

A range of swing-frame, pivoting-bow bandsaws have been launched by KASTO, for use in workshops and are available in the UK and Ireland. Called KASTOmicut, the machines are designed for high accuracy cutting to length and mitre cutting of tubes, sections and solid materials.

  The inventiveness, imagination and innovation of the engineering world is being championed by IMI Precision Engineering with the launch of a campaign. The Man’s Most Marvellous Machine’s campaign celebrates everything about machinery and automation. 

A 10kW fibre laser has been introduced to increase dramatically the speed with which sheet metal parts can be produced on a ByStar Fiber laser cutting machine, from Bystronic, as the previous maximum power was 6kW. Additionally the ByStar Fiber is now available with a sheet capacity of 4x2m in addition to the 3x1.5m version.

  A partnership has been agreed between Kennametal and EWS Tool Technologies, with a variety of KM tooling for multitasking machines, machining centres, and mill-turn lathes is readily available, improving productivity.

Increasing its stock of Hurco machining centres to seven, toolmaking and subcontract CNC machining manufacturer DSM-NE, Newton Aycliffe is including a large 3-axis model and an even bigger 5-axis machine, the company’s first, which was installed in October last year (2015).

A product engineered specifically for the rough-machining of stainless steel turbo housings, has been introduced by Sandvik Coromant as the M612 face mill. The tool’s positive geometry has the effect of providing a smoother cutting action which helps machine shops to eliminate vibration. In turn, higher metal removal rates can be achieved, leading to shorter cycles.

Automotive aluminium may have met its match in the form of the new KBDM face milling platform from Kennametal. Replacing a head gasket on an internal combustion engine is a smooth, flat surface on both the cylinder head and block which is needed for proper operation. No one understands this better than automakers, who strive for predictable, controlled surface finishes and high production output, together with maximum tool life and the lowest tooling cost per machined component.

A new high-precision double column die mould machining centre, dubbed the ‘MVR-Fx’, has been developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool, part of the MHI group. It is the latest model in the company's MVR Series of double-column 5-face milling machines, one of its large-size machine tool product lines. 

A new portable battery powered band saw machine has been designed by Starrett, specifically for professional installers and contractors working across multiple sites. The S1005 machine’s lightweight and compact design allows for safe and easy transportation, making it the ideal product for users across a range of trades.