hurco 4th axis rotary table factory

At EMO 2017 Hurco demonstrated how 3-axis CNC machining centers in its VMXi series can further improve your milling performance with the addition of a Kitagawa GT 200 rotary table as a fourth axis.

Hurco is sure that the highly efficient machining centers in its VMXi series will help increase profitability, especially when it comes to one-off part or small series production. A major advantage of the VMXi machines is their compact construction.

“For example, you don’t need much space to set up a VMX 30i, but it has a comparatively generous working area and cutting performance that is something to be proud of,” said Michael Auer, Managing Director of Hurco GmbH.

The addition of a Kitagawa GT 200 rotary table as a fourth axis significantly increases the range of applications these CNC 3-axis machining centers are capable of. When you start the programme, up to four sides of a component can be machined at once, without reclamping, and if surface machining is needed on circular components, it can do that too. The additional axis can be installed or uninstalled with ease, to suit current needs.

Hurco’s machining centers are equipped with the “WinMax” conversational control system, with optional DXF. The powerful control system software simplifies programming and sets the machine up for producing precision parts in just three steps.

Hurco also demonstrated how cooperation between a machine tool and a loading robot ensures greater efficiency in production. For example, the VMX 30Ui CNC machining center will be loaded and unloaded using an automated system featuring a loading robot from the Dutch provider BMO. This increases productivity while saving on human resources.

Hurco opted for the “Titanium” BMO system. This system allows a CNC machining center to be docked on both the left and right. Blanks are fed in the loading robot cell on trays. The robot arm integrated into the cell positions the blanks in the machining center, removes them after production and places them back into trays in the cell.

The Hurco VMX50i w/4th Axis is an exclusive part of our Vertical Machining Centers inventory which we own and service. We"re the international CNC specialists with the best guarantee in the industry.

The Hurco manufacturing team is relentless when it comes to quality and attention to detail. Like you, they take pride in what they do and what they produce—you can count on a Hurco lathe to last. All of our machine design is conducted in the USA using both static and finite element analysis in addition to reliability analysis. The Hurco team is skilled at user-centric design that results in ergonomic features, such as convenient front access to chuck and tailstock pressure controls in addition to a front loading coolant tank design that makes maintenance easy.

More importantly, the design of Hurco turning centers supports flexible manufacturing, rigidity, and efficient chip removal. It starts with a one-piece slant bed casting that provides higher rigidity in a compact design. The 30-degree slant bed also promotes faster and easier chip removal. All Hurco turning centers are designed with a component isolation system, which keeps the components that generate the most heat isolated to fight heat dissipation and minimise spindle growth. Premium components add to the advanced performance and rigidity, with Yaskawa or Bosch/Rexroth drives, servos, and motors. Additionally, the multiple V-belt design of the spindle promotes higher power transfer with quieter operation.

Numerous chip management features minimise time wasted on cleanup and protect internal components. All of the Hurco turning centers have telescopic way covers to keep chips out and protect the premium components inside your lathe. The inside door keeps coolant and chips inside the machine.

The subcontract company has a plant list that includes manual and CNC machining centres, injection mould machines and test facilities. Part of the acquisition trail includes a Hurco VMX42M and a VMX30Ti machining centre with the larger VMX42M being retro-fitted with a Hurco 4th axis rotary unit two years ago. Designing and manufacturing complex aluminium mould tools, military sensors and the innovative Hayabusa engine, the previous CAD/CAM system was struggling to cope with component complexity.

Programming the 11 core components of the re-modelled engine with hyperMILL®, Vetech has certainly benefitted from the CAM system. As Mr Smith continues: “Programming and machining the Hayabusa project is not time-critical, what is important for us is the ability to program and machine complex parts with confidence in the collision avoidance system. OPEN MIND have completely modelled the work envelope into the CAM system with fixtures, machine spindle, toolholders and the Hurco 4th-axis rotary table all factored into the model. hyperMILL® stores a complete library of toolholders and tools, so we have 100% confidence in the anti-collision system. From a time-reduction standpoint, we programmed an aluminium mould tool for Hayabusa inlet and exhaust caps. With our previous system it took 20 hours to program and with hyperMILL® this same tool was completed in less than 10 hours.”

With over 60% of Vetech work consisting of aluminium mould tool production, the manufacturer programmes the tool core and cavity with hyperMILL® and simultaneously machines the two mating tool components overnight on the two Hurco machines. Efficiently machining core and cavity overnight, the majority of staff hours are consumed in the programming process. To reduce the lead-times, Vetech has invested in two hyperMILL® seats, so one team member can program the core whilst another programs the cavity. “We undertake prototype design, development and testing work on lawnmowers and there is often an urgency to respond to the customer. In most cases, we are expected to design, program and manufacture the mould tool (cavity and core) and then mould the plastic prototypes and conduct thermal and stress tests within 3-4 days. To achieve this, our programming and machining times have to be extremely efficient.”

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The same Stallion Trunnion Table, up to eight times the productivity. ​Built for the highest production jobs. Available in 3 to 8 sided configurations.​ Complete solutions available to maximize your VMCs throughput.​​ Also made for any rotary table and machine tool on the market.

In addition to plenty of machine demos and technology previews, Hurco will toast the company’s 50th anniversary with a happy hour each day at 4:00pm (CDT) and host a 50th Anniversary After-Hours Party on Wed., Sept. 12 from 4:00pm to 9:00pm (CDT) at the Hurco

“We’re excited to use our 50th Anniversary IMTS events to showcase our customers who make some really cool products. Beverages will be dispensed from a th Anniversary IMTS gift was made by Bottle Breacher, an Arizona customer, Eli Crane, who used his winnings from the television show Shark Tank to buy his Hurco VM20i. Eli is a Navy SEAL veteran who turned his hobby into a thriving business. We hope the owners of both Bottoms Up Beer and Bottle Breacher will be able to break away from their shops for a few days and celebrate with us at IMTS. Both companies are a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that is indicative of Hurco customers everywhere,” says Maggie Smith, Hurco marketing manager.

The Hurco booth will be divided into four quadrants: Automation, 5-axis, 3-axis, and Turning. In the Automation quadrant, attendees will see Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) in action with Hurco CNC machine demonstrations in partnership with Erowa

The5-Axis quadrant will feature the latest 5-axis models and CNC technology that make the transition from conventional 3-axis machining to 5-sided machining easy and straightforward.

In the Turningquadrant, attendees will see the latest control software release that streamlines turning and milling. Hurco will also premiere its 3D Import feature with 3D DXF.

In addition to the 50th Anniversary parties and displays, Hurco will showcase the next generation 3D print head adapter that was first introduced at IMTS 2016. The following Hurco CNC machines will be under power at the Hurco booth:

Hurco CNC machines will also be featured at the AMT Emerging Technologies Center and at customer GWS Tool Group VM5i - AMT Emerging Technologies Center

The SR series of 5-axis CNC mills offers multiple advantages, starting with the machine’s design configuration that utilizes a swivel head with either an A or C style rotary table. The generous size of the rotary table provides maximum versatility because you can use the extra table space for secondary operations or 3-axis work.

Heavier Parts. Because the table is stationary, the swivel head/rotary table 5-axis machining centers are typically preferred when machining heavier parts.

Unlimited angular movement of C-axis. With a swivel head/rotary table 5-axis machining center, it is extremely important to make sure the table (C-axis) supports unlimited angular movement.  For example, if you are machining down a steep wall and going around the part, the table needs to rotate in a continuous motion. If the C-axis is limited to +360 / -360 degrees of motion, it will literally need to unwind at regular intervals to machine the part. Conversely, the tables on the Hurco SR 5-axis mills are built with unlimited and continuous rotation because our focus from design to delivery is to maximize productivity and profitability for our customers.

Tool access for swept surfaces and complex contours. There are certain applications, such as impellers or turbines, when it is beneficial to approach the part from underneath. When you mill uphill, as it is sometimes called, the base of the spindle is lower than the tool tip. The B-axis tilting head with the C-axis rotary table of the SR machining center supports this type of cutting strategy, whereas a trunnion style 5-axis mill doesn’t.

Managing director Chris Smith favours this style of 5-axis machining centre over the trunnion-mounted rotary table arrangement due to its versatility for tackling a greater variety of work, including 4-axis machining of large components.

Last year saw the arrival of a Hurco VMX30i, purchased with a fourth axis rotary table to speed set-ups, increase production efficiency and reduce delivery times, plus a larger 3-axis VMX60i with 1,525 x 660 x 610mm working volume that significantly extends the size of component that can be machined on the Livingston site.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of its inauguration this year, Almond Engineering now operates eight Hurco machine tools, a TM8 CNC lathe with 8-inch chuck and seven machining centres. The latter form the vast majority of prismatic metalcutting capacity on site, the only other machining centre being a Bohner & Koehle bought in the 1970s.

As to the subcontractor"s continued purchase of the Hurco brand, Mr Smith comments: "Ours is a prototype and small batch production environment, so efficient shopfloor programming is important to us. We rely on it 90% of the time.

"Back in 2004, we had a number of manual tool change mills and one vertical machining centre, but spent more time programming them than actually cutting metal. To take over from them, in 2004 we bought our first VMX42 with a 1m X-axis. The Hurco control was clearly ahead at the time in terms of the speed and capability of its conversational programming and has continued to lead the market ever since.

He pointed also to the user friendliness of Hurco machines, with staff able to move seamlessly between the twin-screen WinMAX controls powering the larger machining centres and the single-screen MAX controls on the smaller VM1 machining centre and TM8 lathe.

The subcontractor"s hyperMILL offline CAM system is used mostly for programming more complex 3+2 axis cycles to reduce set-ups and improve accuracy on the 5-axis machines and to create some fully interpolative cycles as well.