the JapanTek 5X-410 Machining Center to curious visitors to the company’s booth at IMTS, noting the machine’s five-face/ five-axis capability. In contrast to a conventional articulat- ing spindle head, the 5X-410 features a complete 120° (90° ±15°) tilting spindle head to achieve five-face/five-axis performance. Complemented with a double-wormgear-driven pallet and extended linear strokes in X, Y, and Z axes, the 5X- 410 offers four machining capabilities on a single machine: five-axis; five-face; horizontal; and vertical machining—all with automated pallet changing. Unlike cradle or trunnion types, the machine maintains original strokes and part size/weight envelopes while offering better accessibility. The JapanTec 5S-410, available in the US exclusively from SB Machine Tools.
OKK USA’s VM-76R VMC.
Okuma Debuts Five-Axis HMC, Hosts Partners The centerpiece of Okuma’s (Charlotte, NC) eight new ma- chines was the world debut of the MU-10000H five-axis hori- zontal high-torque, high-speed machining center. Equipped with the THINC OSP P200MA control, the machine is a fully integrated five-axis machining system capable of handling a maximum workpiece weighing in at a hefty 500 lb (227 kg) with a 59" (1500-mm) diameter and 44" (1118-mm) height. The machine was exhibited with a VB 5ax100 Tombstone City fixture on a trunnion table with a 1-m square pallet. Many of Okuma’s 42 Partners in THINC third-party suppliers of everything from intelligent gages, software, tool management systems, cutting tools to automation including robots were available to help visitors shape their manufactur- ing systems. In the Okuma CARE section of the exhibit booth, attendees were invited to register their machines, update information to receive service and warranty notifications and get a free Okuma user kit. A leader in technology, Okuma is the owner of 416 patents, offers 95 highly intelligent machines and has been awarded 32 worldwide awards for innovation and technology.
OKK USA Displays its Highly Rigid VM-76R at IMTS The latest edition to the OKK USA Corp. (Glendale Heights, IL) VM line of VMCs—the VM-76R—was demonstrated at IMTS by Sales Manager Masaya “Sugi” Sugimoto, who touted the machine’s new levels of rigidity and accuracy and ex- panded work area. Sugimoto explained that to achieve a 20% increase in rigidity, the VM-76R features a newly optimized rib shape and location, and a thicker 1-ton (0.9072-t) casting. Y-
axis pitch has been increased by 80 mm to reduce deflection by 30% and improve accuracy. The machine is equipped with a No. 50 spindle taper for heavy-duty cutting and larger tool capacity. An optimized ATC function adjusts ATC speed for heavy weight and larger diameter tools.
Job Shops Have Wide Machine Choices
For job shops, Haas Automation (Oxnard, CA) exhibited its usual plethora of milling and turning machine technology including its UMC-750 five-axis 40-taper vertical machin- ing center featuring an integrated dual-axis trunnion table. The UMC-750 can deliver 3+2 machining or full simultane- ous five-axis motion for contouring and complex machining. Though large high-speed, high-torque/low-speed, and five- axis machines were on the top of everyone’s list of machines to see, MC Machinery Systems exhibited its new lines of general-purpose vertical machining centers. The Diamond Cut series of VMCs marks MC Machinery’s entry with milling machine technology for the shop floor, following its well-known presence with EDM, waterjet, and laser technology. Models are available for drill/tap, die/mold applications, heavy-duty machining of large parts, and general-purpose machining.
NPT Taps Feature New Emuge Flute Form Design Emuge Corp. (West Boylston, MA), best known for its tap- ping technologies, showcased a new line of NPT Taper Pipe Taps that feature a newly developed flue form with variable skip tooth geometry. The advanced flue design optimizes chip flow and clearance and lowers tapping torque, which is ideal for materials that produce long, stringy chip formations.