Methods Machine Tools Inc., Sudbury, Mass., a supplier of machine tools, automation and accessories will show 20 new machine tools and demonstrate 40 machines and automation solutions at IMTS 2014, booth S-9119. The show will be held McCormick Place in Chicago, IL from Sept. 8 - 13, 2014.
Methods will demonstrate new machine tools and automation from YASDA, KIWA-Japan, Nakamura-Tome, FANUC and FEELER.
A new line of YASDA machining centers making their U.S. trade show debut will include an H40i-24PLS 5-Axis High Precision Machining Center, a YMC 430 5-Axis Micro Center featuring linear motor driven controlled axes and a rigid structure, two Heavy Duty Vertical Jig Boring-Milling Machines including the YBM 640V3 3-Axis and v40i 5-Axis models and a YBM7Ti 2-Pallet Horizontal 5-Axis Machine. Methods will also unveil a newly designed YASDA machine that is the result of collaboration between Methods and YASDA engineers to meet the requirements of the North American market.
KIWA horizontal machining centers at the show will include a newly expanded line, the competitively priced KIWA-Methods KMH Series that now offers pallet sizes ranging from 300 mm to 1,250 mm. The new, compact KMH-300 30-Taper, 15,000 RPM, 300 mm dual pallet machine and new KMH-630B 50-Taper, 10,000 RPM, 630 mm dual pallet changer model will be among the KIWA machines on display.
Nakamura-Tome Multitasking Turning Centers on display will include the NTJ-100 twin spindle with a B-Axis upper turret and Y-Axis lower turret, which will be making its first appearance at IMTS. Also being demonstrated, the NTY3-250 multitasking turning center offering three high rigidity turrets, each with a Y-axis of 4.4 inches (112 mm).
The new AS-200 High Performance Multitasking Turning Center features a single spindle, single turret with Milling and Y-Axis as standard, in a heavy duty and compact machine. The AS-200 will be shown in a Methods Lathe JobShop Cell offering a pre-engineered, flexible cell, ideal for manufacturers who want to incorporate automation into their operations for the first time.
And now available to Nakamura users, a new FANUC control with WINDOWS 8.0 software provides an easy-to-use, powerful touch screen with access to full programming and troubleshooting manuals on a large 19-inch screen. For easy-to-use support, Nakamura includes comprehensive "NT-Nurse" software that provides user-friendly operation, programming and production support, and facilitates easy part set-ups with no fixtures required. For safety, overload detection via an airbag greatly reduces any impact due to machine collision.
FANUC RoboDrill Machining Centers including numerous FANUC D-Series RoboDrills featuring FANUC's most sophisticated control, the 31iB series, will be under power at IMTS. The widely popular and reliable FANUC RoboDrills will be demonstrated with a Pallet Changer model including a 4th-Axis shuttle package which allows for longer unattended operation or quick part change over.
FANUC RoboCut Wire EDMs featuring the FANUC RoboCut α-CiA Series including the C400iA and C600iA Wire EDMs with several new capabilities. A first in the industry, new volumetric taper compensation (TPCMP) with 4-Axis over burn control is being introduced on the FANUC RoboCut α-CiA Series with a CNC FANUC Series 31i-WB control.
FEELER milling and turning centers will include the new FT-250SY 4-Axis Milling Lathe, which will be making its North American debut at IMTS. A unique capability in its class, the FT-250SY features a true Y- axis with 100mm (+/- 50mm) of travel. An 8-inch sub-spindle is offered in addition to the primary 10-inch spindle, providing more capacity on the FT-250SY. Also, the new SBM 2000 Universal Milling Machine with articulated head and integrated 4th Axis will be among the nine FEELER machines on the floor.
Automation will include several pre-engineered automation solutions including the popular RoboDrill JobShop Cell featuring 5-Axis machining and efficient part loading/unloading, ideal for aerospace and medical manufacturers. A RoboDrill Twin Cell featuring two FANUC RoboDrills being serviced by a single robot and optimizing loading/unloading time will be under power.
For more information, visit www.methodsmachine.com.
Related Glossary Terms
- centers
centers
Cone-shaped pins that support a workpiece by one or two ends during machining. The centers fit into holes drilled in the workpiece ends. Centers that turn with the workpiece are called “live” centers; those that do not are called “dead” centers.
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- jig
jig
Tooling usually considered to be a stationary apparatus. A jig assists in the assembly or manufacture of a part or device. It holds the workpiece while guiding the cutting tool with a bushing. A jig used in subassembly or final assembly might provide assembly aids such as alignments and adjustments. See fixture.
- lathe
lathe
Turning machine capable of sawing, milling, grinding, gear-cutting, drilling, reaming, boring, threading, facing, chamfering, grooving, knurling, spinning, parting, necking, taper-cutting, and cam- and eccentric-cutting, as well as step- and straight-turning. Comes in a variety of forms, ranging from manual to semiautomatic to fully automatic, with major types being engine lathes, turning and contouring lathes, turret lathes and numerical-control lathes. The engine lathe consists of a headstock and spindle, tailstock, bed, carriage (complete with apron) and cross slides. Features include gear- (speed) and feed-selector levers, toolpost, compound rest, lead screw and reversing lead screw, threading dial and rapid-traverse lever. Special lathe types include through-the-spindle, camshaft and crankshaft, brake drum and rotor, spinning and gun-barrel machines. Toolroom and bench lathes are used for precision work; the former for tool-and-die work and similar tasks, the latter for small workpieces (instruments, watches), normally without a power feed. Models are typically designated according to their “swing,” or the largest-diameter workpiece that can be rotated; bed length, or the distance between centers; and horsepower generated. See turning machine.
- linear motor
linear motor
Functionally the same as a rotary motor in a machine tool, a linear motor can be thought of as a standard permanent-magnet, rotary-style motor slit axially to the center and then peeled back and laid flat. The major advantage of using a linear motor to drive the axis motion is that it eliminates the inefficiency and mechanical variance caused by the ballscrew assembly system used in most CNC machines.
- machining center
machining center
CNC machine tool capable of drilling, reaming, tapping, milling and boring. Normally comes with an automatic toolchanger. See automatic toolchanger.
- milling
milling
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.
- milling machine ( mill)
milling machine ( mill)
Runs endmills and arbor-mounted milling cutters. Features include a head with a spindle that drives the cutters; a column, knee and table that provide motion in the three Cartesian axes; and a base that supports the components and houses the cutting-fluid pump and reservoir. The work is mounted on the table and fed into the rotating cutter or endmill to accomplish the milling steps; vertical milling machines also feed endmills into the work by means of a spindle-mounted quill. Models range from small manual machines to big bed-type and duplex mills. All take one of three basic forms: vertical, horizontal or convertible horizontal/vertical. Vertical machines may be knee-type (the table is mounted on a knee that can be elevated) or bed-type (the table is securely supported and only moves horizontally). In general, horizontal machines are bigger and more powerful, while vertical machines are lighter but more versatile and easier to set up and operate.
- precision machining ( precision measurement)
precision machining ( precision measurement)
Machining and measuring to exacting standards. Four basic considerations are: dimensions, or geometrical characteristics such as lengths, angles and diameters of which the sizes are numerically specified; limits, or the maximum and minimum sizes permissible for a specified dimension; tolerances, or the total permissible variations in size; and allowances, or the prescribed differences in dimensions between mating parts.
- turning
turning
Workpiece is held in a chuck, mounted on a face plate or secured between centers and rotated while a cutting tool, normally a single-point tool, is fed into it along its periphery or across its end or face. Takes the form of straight turning (cutting along the periphery of the workpiece); taper turning (creating a taper); step turning (turning different-size diameters on the same work); chamfering (beveling an edge or shoulder); facing (cutting on an end); turning threads (usually external but can be internal); roughing (high-volume metal removal); and finishing (final light cuts). Performed on lathes, turning centers, chucking machines, automatic screw machines and similar machines.
- universal milling machine
universal milling machine
Horizontal mill equipped with a table that swivels, with respect to the saddle, allowing angular surfaces to be cut without changing the workpiece’s position.
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