HOUSTEX 2015

ENHANCED CAD/CAM WORKFLOW IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY
Valued for its ability to accurately program any machine tool, the Edgecam solution by Vero Software (Cheltenham, England) will be exhibited in Booth 1821. Edgecam is CAD/CAM software for CNC programming with unparalleled ease of use and intelligent toolpath generation. It’s the only CAD/CAM system a shop needs for 3D milling, mill-turn machining, and multi-axis machining.

Among the solution’s latest upgrades is Edgecam Workflow, a software application specifically designed for manufacturers to reduce costs, improve quality and achieve shorter lead times. Workflow understands the component topology and understands the required manufacturing environment, therefore accelerating toolpath generation. Workflow will have a significant impact on shortening programming time and, because it is so simple to operate, the learning curve for new users is considerably reduced. An additional improvement to Edgecam Workflow is its ability to automatically convert a 2D drawing into a 3D model by selecting the views and tracing the part outline.

Vero Software, Hadley House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3AW, United Kingdom, +44 (0) 1189 756084, www.edgecam.com.

HIGH PRECISION DEEP-HOLE GUNDRILL GRINDING
In Booth 1149, UNISIG (Menomonee Falls, WI), a manufacturer of deep-hole drilling systems, will demonstrate its new Gundrill Grinder and its new UNE Gundrilling Machine Series. Designed as a complete system, the Gundrill Grinder comes equipped with all necessary software, hardware, high-precision fixturing and measuring capability.

Whether resharpening existing points or generating new geometries, users can seamlessly move tool tips back and forth from the grinding wheel to the Gundrill Grinder’s high-power camera measuring unit – all while drills remain in their fixturing. Drills ground on the new system last longer, provide better chip evacuation and create more precise holes as compared with those ground on other similar types of systems. The Gundrill Grinder’s intuitive measuring software provides detailed, on-screen measurements. Other gauging system features include a digital 20X-90X extended range magnification microscope, LED light and swing arm mounted digital depth micrometer.

UNISIG can fixture the Gundrill Grinder to accommodate any range of gundrill diameters. The machine’s grinding head assembly, outfitted with a 220 grit diamond grinding wheel, delivers 360 deg adjustability, and fixture options for standard (sweep) and facet grinds are available.

In addition to the Gundrill Grinder, UNISIG will spotlight its UNE Series of gundrilling machines during the show. The series combines high-performance and value in standard machine models that allow any shop to cost-effectively add deep-hole drilling capability to their machining operations. Within the series, UNISIG offers one or two-spindle machine configurations and several models for various maximum drilling diameters and depths. The UNE6 model drills diameters to 0.24 in (6 mm) and hole depths up to 10 in (250 mm); the UNE12 and 12-2 up to 0.5 in (12 mm) diameters and depths of 30 in (750 mm); and the UNE20 drills diameters up to 0.790 in (20 mm) at depths up to 30 in (750 mm).

UNISIG, N58 W14630 Shawn Circle, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051, 262-252-3802, Fax: 262-252-4075, www.unisig.com.

ADVANCED MACHINE TOOLS FOR TURNING AND GRINDING
In Booth 262, Chevalier Machinery, Inc. (Sante Fe Springs, CA)  will be showcasing five machines, starting with the new FBL-510C-MC large bore horizontal lathe with live tooling that is perfect for pipe threading and in demand by the gas, oil and other related industries. It helps manufacturers with a wide range of needs while its 21.5 ft L x 9.8 ft W dimensions eliminate excess floor space. The machine features dual chuck capability with a 12.5 in spindle bore diameter. The slant bed lathes are stable, highly accurate machines that can handle rough- and fine-turning operations. The three-speed gearbox provides enough horsepower for large diameter, heavy-duty cutting.

Shops are giving great reviews for the newly designed FBL-510C MC with its 45 deg slant bed, rigid box ways structure and programmable tailstock. With its new design, the machine is engineered with ease of access and trouble-free maintenance in mind. The tool setters help reduce set-up times and keep non-machining times to a minimum.

The FBL-360B MC Heavy-duty Horizontal Turning Lathe features a 45 deg slant bed lathe with a rigid box ways structure and programmable tailstock. It is also engineered with ease of access and trouble-free maintenance. The series also comes with a 15 in chuck, maximum swing and maximum turning diameter of 22.4 in and a maximum turning length up to 80 in. The lathe features up to 35 hp AC digital spindle motor with two-speed gear box, spindle bar is 4.5 in diameter and speed up to 2,500 rpm. This machine is ideal for mixed volume, short-run or dedicated high-volume applications.

http://youtu.be/deqRV84S_zM

The FVL-1250VTC+C vertical turning center (casting) is perfect for heavy-duty turning, milling, boring, grinding, drilling and thread-cutting applications. Its rotary table is driven by a powerful spindle motor with a gearbox for low-speed high-torque machining and higher speed for fine finishing. The live tooling provides a powerful milling capability along with a standard FANUC 25 hp spindle motor that includes a two-speed gearbox, providing up to 478 Nm torque. It can easily handle up to M30 tap or 50 mm drill with tough material. The full C-axis function can be programmed in minimum 0.001 deg indexing. This very rigid machine structure reduces the cutting induced vibration associated with machining hard metals.

The FSG-1632ADIII fully automatic surface grinder is a highly advanced, automatic-precision, surface-grinding machine that offers improved accuracy, quality and ease of operation. This series includes the new touch-screen control station that is adjustable to a comfortable position for the operator. Switches, buttons, LEDs and indicating lamps are all combined in a touch display that is ergonomically positioned to provide the best user-friendly operation.

The FSG-ADIII Series includes a new PLC controller that provides a grind cycle with rough grinding, fine grinding, spark-out passes and an automatic over-wheel dresser with compensation, which can be added to fully automate the grind process. After the cycle is finished, the table will “park” either left or right of the saddle and at the front to facilitate unloading and loading. The spindle can be set to “stop running” or “continue running.” The wheel head can also be set to return to the start position or to park at a reference point. Once the cycle is started, the wheel head will move rapidly to the start point and repeat the grind cycle. If material is required to be removed from both sides, “flip over” can be selected, so that the wheel head position is at the finish grind height, which will start grinding immediately without touching off.

The SMART-B818III surface and high profile CNC grinder has received client praise for its high-precision grinding and ease of operation. The SMART-B818III is capable of producing “mirror” surface finishes on highly accurately ground workpieces that produce microfinishes of 5 RMS. The positioning accuracy is ±0.0025 micron and the grinding accuracy is 1 micron.

The SMART’s movements are programmable in increments of 0.001 mm and include a table size of 8 in x 8 in. The maximum distance from table to spindle centerline is 16 in and wheel spindle is rated at 1,000 rpm to 7,000 rpm and 4 hp (3 kW). The SMART’s standard grinding wheel size is 8 in x ½ in x 1-¼ in. The machine weighs approximately 2,665 lb, with dimensions of 80.9 in x 82.36 in x 82.7 in. The SMART’s PC-based control, combined with a user-friendly conversational TaskLink function, makes it easy to learn and operate.

Chevalier Machinery, Inc., 9925 Tabor Place, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, 562-903-1929 ext 128 (turning and milling machines), ext 126 (grinding machines), Fax: (562) 903-3959, www.chevalierusa.com.

SELF-CONTAINED AIR CHUCKS, SWIVEL CHUCK SYSTEMS FOR PIPE MACHINING
In Booth 2043, Röhm Products of America (Lawrenceville, GA) will demonstrate the performance and precision of its LVE and HSFZ chuck systems that are designed specifically for the oil and gas industry. With both chuck systems, manufacturers can quickly and efficiently process long, large pipes as well as associated pipe couplings and connectors.

Pneumatic self-contained LVE chucks are well suited for machining/threading the ends of pipes, especially those typically used for extracting crude oil or natural gas. For those applications, the chucks can be mounted to the front and rear sides of the machine spindle to allow for heavy-duty chip-cutting performance at high turning precision. Röhm offers the LVE chucks in a variety of configurations to handle a wide range of machining situations such as machining of bent pipe. The configurations include ES versions with rapid stroke and clamping stroke, versions featuring retracting clamping arms for pre-centering the workpiece, and also versions with spring clamping and pneumatic release.