Versatile, 5-Axis Machining Centre Can Tackle Almost Any Material

The direct-drive spindle, which uses the HSK-A100 interface for superior rigidity and accuracy, is suitable for milling titanium alloys with 1,000 Nm of torque from 20 rpm up to 1,000 rpm. Typical metal removal rate is 202 cm3/min for Ti-6Al-4V. Aluminium components, on the other hand, can be machined at 4,636 cm3/min for A6061 using 56 kW of continuous power up to the full spindle speed of 12,000 rpm.

While these metals highlight the extremes of the T1 spindle’s capability, mid-range power and torque levels are available for efficient machining of materials ranging from cast iron, tool steel and stainless steel to Inconel.

Robust box-way castings, wide slideway surfaces and a deep monolithic column impart rigidity and dynamic stiffness. Active damping suppresses cutting vibrations, leading to more precise machining and increasing both metal removal rate and tool life. High volume, high pressure, through-spindle coolant also improves tool life by eliminating heat and evacuating chips from the cutting zone. Maximum pallet payload is three tonnes.

Complementing these attributes is the T1’s kinematic structure. Its + 45 deg to -110 deg A-axis tilts the spindle to provide full five-sided machining capability for parts up to 1,500 mm in diameter. The configuration also allows -90 deg spindle centreline positioning up to 550 mm beyond pallet centre, so large workpieces can be machined in one hit.

The B-axis rotary table has a rotational speed of 3,600 deg/min, which is supported by 10,000 Nm of continuous torque (29,000 Nm peak). The A-axis is equally fast and offers 6,300 Nm of continuous torque (20,000 Nm peak). Spindle and workpiece accessibility is promoted by a compact, 400 mm pivot distance.

Operators benefit from an unobstructed view of the cutting area and a low pallet height for easy set-up, which is not the case if a trunnion-mounted table provides the rotary axes on a 5-axis machine. Moreover, the latter arrangement can deflect under a heavy load, unlike with a tilting spindle machine like the T1, on which the workpiece is supported directly by the bed.

The high volume of chips generated by aluminium machining and elevated cutting temperatures when hogging titanium presented challenges when designing the T1’s swarf and coolant management. The machine includes a temperature controlled, filtered, through-spindle coolant system delivering 100 litres per minute (optional) at up to 1,000 psi directly to the cutting tip. This system effectively eliminates heat from the cutting zone, extends tool life and optimises chip evacuation.

The Makino T1 offers numerous capabilities for maximising utilisation and reducing non-cutting times. Feed rate in X, Y, and Z is 25 m/min. The 60-position automatic tool changer (137-position optional) and automatic pallet changer ensure uninterrupted operation. The T1 may be integrated with Makino’s MMC2 automatic pallet transfer and storage system to enable long periods of unattended operation.