Product category:
CNC and Motion Controllers
News Release from: ACI (UK)
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 17 October 2006
CNC and DRO systems go on show
ACI (UK) will display a comprehensive array of CNC and DRO systems at Productivity Partnerships at 600 Centre, Shepshed.
Measurement and control specialist ACI (UK) will be displaying a comprehensive array of its world-leading CNC and DRO systems at Productivity Partnerships from 14th to 16th November at 600 Centre, Shepshed Exhibits will include the powerful 6000 Series Anilam multi-axis CNC, the MillPwr intuitive two-/three-axis CNC plus the all-new Acu-Rite 100S and 200S, Anilam Wizard 550 and Quadra-Chek 300 DRO systems
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 23 Aug 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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The event will also be used as the UK preview showcase for the new Anilam Wizard 1000 DRO, scheduled for launch in early 2007.
This fully programmable system with, for example, I/O capability and encoder inputs for four independent axes, is more powerful but easier to use than its predecessor (the Wizard 900) yet it costs the same.
Complementary new precision linear scale technology will also be on view, along with the Anilam Wizard 311 DRO and the Metronics Quadra-Chek 200 and Gage Chek systems.
Staging a mixture of on-machine demonstrations and static displays at this year's exhibition, the powerful yet user-friendly systems from ACI (UK) will appeal to companies of every size and across every metal-cutting sector - whatever their budgets.
Described as the complete digital solution for milling machines and vertical machining centres, the Anilam 6000M CNC will be demonstrated on a 600 Centre Richmond vertical machining centre.
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The 6000M is the world's first CNC to offer standard G Code and true conversational programming (Anilam's Machinist Language) together in a single system with the result that programs can be created accurately and quickly - in some cases reducing programming times by 50%.
With a powerful 586 DX4 133 PC processor and 16Mbyte of RAM, plus 12in TFT screen, the control features enhanced mould and die capability (scaling, mirror image, modal corner rounding/chamfering, for example) as well as a host of advanced canned cycles as standard, including mould rotation and draft angle.
Able to import CAD files from any system, the Anilam 6000M also boasts an integrated CAM programming mode for interactive programming using icons (moves shown as they are being programmed), menu-driven tooling, tool compensation and interference checking, and built-in post-processor along with built-in probing cycles for part verification and edge finding as well as tool wear and breakage.
Additional cycles can be written for customised probing routines.
Simulation graphic functions embrace rapid, feed and compensated moves (colour differentiated) isometric views, auto part fit, window zoom and static tool display, for instance.
Importantly, the Anilam 6000M has a networking capability that provides auto-sensing at 100Mbit/s for data transmission with the result that users can gain improvements of up to 50% in program verification, and performance improvements of 15% in the processing of 8000-block programs featuring 0.003in step-over increments.
The control also features Anilam's Integral Programmable Intelligence, so there is no need for a separate PLC unit and, compared with older CNC systems accompanied by a separate bank of drives, these are now housed in one compact module.
In addition, Productivity Partnerships will also enable ACI (UK) to demonstrate how its recent developments in DRO technology have effectively put machine control technology on a higher cost-to-performance level with new additions to its Acu-Rite, Anilam and Metronics Quadra-Chek ranges.
Offered with the new and highly durable SENC 50/150 precision glass scale technologies that have resolutions of 0.5, 1 and 5um, the uprated Acu-Rite 100S DRO package represents an unrivalled cost-to-performance system for user-friendly three-axis milling, turning, grinding or general purpose applications.
In addition, the fully functional numeric keyboard-capable 100S is also presettable - its predecessor was not - yet is available at the same price.
With digital LED, the 100S's functionality - absolute/incremental display, instant inch/mm conversion, preset and zero rest capability, tool offset, instant radius/diameter conversion, multiple display resolutions, linear error compensation, message prompts, error checking and selection count direction - is complemented by the new SENC 50 and 150 precision glass encoders.
SENC scales adopt a radically new construction process based around the use of reflective light (rather than that transmittive light) for measurement, using a reader head that is mounted on the scale's top face.
With advanced roller bearing technology for reduced backlash and greater scale travel life, the result is a high-precision glass scale that is more resistant to machine inaccuracies and vibration, and therefore more durable, than existing products but available at comparable cost.
SENC 150 - on show at Productivity Partnerships - is available in lengths of 50 to 3050mm, and SENC 50 is available in lengths of 25 to 500mm.
Both systems feature Acu-Rite's exclusive Position-Trac functionality that allows operators to accurately and quickly re-establish workpiece zero from any position after a power interruption.
Once power is restored, the DRO reads a line pattern on the glass scale to recall the last known zero.
Acu-Rite's new DRO 200S is totally intuitive and all prompts, instructions and help functions are visible as text or graphics on the flat screen 5.7in 320 x 240 resolution crystal clear LCD (instead of traditional LED and VFD display technology).
All standard routines are visible on the screen and graphics guide users through the simple questions.
Operation-specific soft keys reinforce the boast that Acu-Rite systems are the easiest to use in the industry.
For milling, the system is supplied as standard with bolt hole pattern calculations for full and partial circles with graphics, zero reset and preset features, tool diameter compensation and near zero warning, for example.
For, turning, the system features include taper turning functionality and 16 tool offsets that, when used with the axis lock feature, ensures tool deflection is reduced even under load.
Importantly, the system also features constant surface speed (CSS) functionality to maintain a constant cutting speed when machining diameters - whatever the position of the cutting tool.
The resulting benefits include faster production cycles and greatly improved surface finish.
The functionality is controlled directly from the DRO, which also has a teach mode.
Grinding and general use applications for the DRO 200S are based around the system's zero reset, linear error compensation, instant radius-to-diameter and inch to mm conversions, as well as absolute/incremental display features.
RS232 port and workpiece probing functionality is provided as standard.
The system is complemented by Acu-Rite precision glass scales that provide accuracies down to +/-1.5um, courtesy of their inherent durability and resistance to variations in temperature and humidity, and Position-Trac is also a feature of the DRO 200S.
New precision glass linear encoders - ENC 125T/125E - also complement the new Anilam Wizard 550 DRO and together they, too, will be on display.
Wizard 550 is totally intuitive and all prompts, instructions and help functions are visible as text or graphics on the flat screen 5.7in 320 x 240 resolution crystal clear LCD (instead of traditional LED and VFD display technology).
All standard routines are visible on the screen and graphics guide users through the simple questions.
Operation-specific soft keys reinforce the boast that Anilam systems are the easiest to use in the industry.
For milling, the system is supplied as standard with bolt hole pattern calculations for full and partial circles with graphics, zero reset and preset features, tool diameter compensation and near zero warning, for example.
For, turning, the system features include taper turning functionality and 16 tool offsets that, when used with the axis lock feature, ensures tool deflection is reduced even under load.
Grinding and general use applications for the Wizard 550 are based around the system's zero reset, linear error compensation, instant radius-to-diameter and inch to mm conversions, as well as absolute/incremental display features.
RS232 port and workpiece probing functionality is provided as standard.
Like the new 100S, the Wizard 550 is of slimline design, with diecast aluminium casing and plastic front cover.
The ENC 125T (top) and ENC 125E (end) precision glass scales are characteristically durable, and are available with a resolution of five microns and an accuracy rating of 10um/m.
ENC scales are available in lengths up to 3050mm.
The Metronics Quadra-Chek QC 300 DRO for gauge and inspection routines features integrated live video monitor for direct camera feed and additional measuring routines.
The QC 300 therefore offers an innovative yet cost-effective and simplistic approach to gauge and inspection routines by combining camera feed and a crosshair generator or video edge detection with improved geometric functionality in a digital readout with a colour touch screen display.
With powerful yet easy-to-use functionality the new DRO competes with PC-based systems in terms of both cost and capability but without the associated training and support issues.
Targeted for use on the shopfloor and at goods-in areas, and for measurements in the x, y and z planes, the QC 300 not only embraces Metronics' familiar DRO functionality such as advanced geometric constructions, but it also incorporates: a new multipoint tool for automatically locating a number of points to remove operator subjectivity; and new functionality for measuring rectangular and circular slots.
The QC 300's DRO mode provides icons indicating operations such as in/out-of-tolerance alert.
It also contains many other features such as unit switches including settings of inch/metric, absolute/incremental, decimal degrees/degrees, as well as minutes and seconds.
Part programs can also be stored within the display.
With USB ports for increased connectivity, and Ethernet for networking, as well as serial and printer ports, the QC 300 has a large memory capacity of up to 99 programs and can accommodate memory sticks for fast and simple updating and transfer of data to PCs.
System software can be easily retrofitted.
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