Ultra High Speed Machining of Impellers, Dental, Medical Parts

The advanced spindle technology and controls on the new Matsuura LX-160 two-pallet, five-axis vertical machining center from Methods Machine Tools are also ideal for the super precision machining of precision molding or optical parts.

Methods Machine Tools, Inc. (Sudbury, MA) introduces the new Matsuura LX-160 two-pallet, five-axis vertical machining center. The LX-160 spindle utilizes a unique balancing method to enable an extremely high spindle speed of 46,000 min^-1. A quick tool change time, a high maximum rpm and superior kinematics all work together to provide unmatched accuracies and cycle times.

The LX-160 provides X-Y-Z travels of 19.7 in x 9.8 in x 11.8 in (500.38 mm x 248.92 mm x 299.72 mm) and a 46,000 rpm Fanuc control. The rotation center of the tilting B-axis is lowered to a position below the pallet surface to reduce each axis movement during simultaneous five-axis machining, shortening cycle times. The tool change system has been designed to shorten the change cycle to 3.5 sec from chip-to-chip – a 65 percent reduction compared to conventional Matsuura machines.

High-precision linear motor drives on all five axes deliver 3,600 ipm rapids on the X-, Y- and Z-axes and 100 min^-1  to 200 min^-1 rapids on the B- and C-axes. The new system offers a large 6.3 in x 7.9 in (160.01 mm x 200.66 mm) work envelope in a small footprint and is optimally designed according to FEM analysis to provide increased rigidity of 80 percent over conventional machines. The pallet work surface measures 4.4 in (111.76 mm) and maximum load capacity is 44 lb (20 kg). The tooling and number of pallets is also now field-expandable.

The next-generation Matsuura Intelligent Meister System (MIMS) monitors the overall production process to ensure reliable operation, high product quality, simple data management and low power consumption. The automatic tool changer is equipped with a drum-type tool magazine driven by a servomotor for quick tool indexing, low noise and low vibration. The LX-160 is equipped with CAMplete Truepath Software, an integrated suite of G-code editing, optimization, analysis and verification tools to offer a variety of ATC/APC options.

The LF-160 5-Axis and LV-500 3-Axis systems both feature a high-precision motor and are ideal for the super precision machining of precision molding or optical parts. The LS-160 5-Axis model uses a Siemens control and a high-speed motor that are ideal for the ultra high-speed machining of impellers, dental and medical parts. www.methodsmachine.com