HMC400 Horizontal Machining Center

February 01, 2014

From its rotary table to its powerful spindle, virtually every feature of OKK's HMC400 Horizontal Machining Center is engineered for speed and faster cycle times. High-speed machining is nothing new to OKK; the builder already offers the exceptionally quick HM500S. The HMC400, however, performs even 20 percent faster than the HM500S. With the inclusion of a lightweight column featuring a rigid stepped X axis rail design, the HMC400 achieves a rapid feed rate of 63 meters per minute (2480 ipm) with acceleration of 1G (XYZ).

The HMC400's built-in rotary table operates with impressive speed. A large bearing in the B axis of the rotary table, and a multi clamp pallet system, ensure rigidity. Further contributing to the HMC400's high-speed performance are an exceptionally fast automatic pallet changer and an incredibly quick automatic tool changer. The HMC400 accepts a wide variety of tool sizes, including tools up to 450mm long. A longer tool allowance means deep boring operations can be completed without rotating the pallet, for additional time savings.

A powerful, high torque and highly rigid 15K Big Plus Spindle allows the HMC400 to reach cutting speeds of 15,000 rpm in a mere 1.7 seconds (with 50 HP), for faster machining of a variety of tough materials, including 1018 steel. This machine is 25 percent faster at rigid tapping than OKK's HM500S with the same cutting condition. The spindle design also improves tool accessibility. The distance from the spindle nose to the pallet center is 50mm, the shortest distance in its class.

Maintenance was also considered in the time-saving design of the HMC400. The 1000 PSI coolant through spindle unit features a 5µm bag filter, which can be easily replaced without interrupting the cycle. More than 3 times longer life can be achieved compared to conventional line filter systems. What's more, virtually all maintenance controls and gauges are centrally located on the front of the machine for convenient daily inspection.

Along with time and cost savings, the HMC400 is designed to save space. The HMC400 includes a low profile chip conveyor that requires less space behind the machine.

Related Glossary Terms

  • boring

    boring

    Enlarging a hole that already has been drilled or cored. Generally, it is an operation of truing the previously drilled hole with a single-point, lathe-type tool. Boring is essentially internal turning, in that usually a single-point cutting tool forms the internal shape. Some tools are available with two cutting edges to balance cutting forces.

  • coolant

    coolant

    Fluid that reduces temperature buildup at the tool/workpiece interface during machining. Normally takes the form of a liquid such as soluble or chemical mixtures (semisynthetic, synthetic) but can be pressurized air or other gas. Because of water’s ability to absorb great quantities of heat, it is widely used as a coolant and vehicle for various cutting compounds, with the water-to-compound ratio varying with the machining task. See cutting fluid; semisynthetic cutting fluid; soluble-oil cutting fluid; synthetic cutting fluid.

  • feed

    feed

    Rate of change of position of the tool as a whole, relative to the workpiece while cutting.

  • machining center

    machining center

    CNC machine tool capable of drilling, reaming, tapping, milling and boring. Normally comes with an automatic toolchanger. See automatic toolchanger.

  • tapping

    tapping

    Machining operation in which a tap, with teeth on its periphery, cuts internal threads in a predrilled hole having a smaller diameter than the tap diameter. Threads are formed by a combined rotary and axial-relative motion between tap and workpiece. See tap.

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