Product category:
Machinery and Production Equipment
News Release from: Fagor Automation UK
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 01 August 2001
Machine re-build company impressed with
CNC
A machine re-build company which recently used Fagor's products and services for the first time was so impressed it now recommends Fagor CNC when quoting its customers
A machine re-build company which recently used Fagor's products and services for the first time was so impressed it now recommends Fagor CNC when quoting its customers Malvern-based ExWard, which carries out re-build work for companies worldwide, needed a replacement CNC for a traditional workhorse, a Turret Lathe, both to increase flexibility and dispense with the previous, and now outdated, CNC fitted originally
Says Barry Bluck, one of three partners at ExWard together with Geoff Price and Graham Bolton: "We hadn't used Fagor before, but were initially impressed by their information brochure.
We were then persuaded both by the complete package offered by Fagor, which included everything and was very good value, and by the support they offered from start to finish.
"A Fagor engineer joined us on-site during the rebuild to give advice on aspects we were unsure of, and to help us set up the CNC and drives.
We were very impressed and appreciated the help.
The CNC 8055TC control itself is very user-friendly - which is what our customer wanted - they're more than happy with the end result.
I'd definitely recommend Fagor - both for the overall product package and the service they offer." The 8055 provided a powerful PLC interface to manage the existing spindle controller, tool turret and operator safety systems, while simplified electrical wiring resulted in cost savings.
Says Fagor's Bob Matthews of the Turret Lathe re-build: "The CNC monitors the axes positions to avoid collision between the Z and W axes which had previously been prevented with limit switches - this increases reliability and eliminates wiring.
The PLC continually compares the axes positions to parameters introduced by the machine builder, in the PLC parameter table, and inhibits motion when either axis is in danger." In addition, because the W axis motion indexes the six-position turret mechanically, there is a zone in the W axis travel where the direction of movement cannot be reversed, otherwise, damage to the indexing mechanism would occur.
The PLC monitors this zone and prevents axis direction reversal after entry - this also reduces the wiring and relay logic used on the machine.
Says Bob Matthews: "The ability to transfer tool offsets to the W axis was also essential, as various drills and other tools are in constant use." Fagor leads the field with its state-of-the-art conversational CNC Fagor 8055 TCO/MCO series.
(Turning customisable option and milling customisable option).
The cost efficient and highly flexible 8055 is supplied 'blank', allowing the operator to programme it for specific requirements using PC-based tools.
"The 8055 is powerful enough to meet the most demanding of machine tool applications and is ideal for use with lathes and turning centres, milling machines, machining centres and general purpose applications such as surface grinders," says Bob Matthews.
The customisable keyboard has 11 keys for direct access to canned cycles, allowing the editing and executing of 11 sets of canned cycles with 20 levels - up to 200 cycles including those accessible from PLC.
There are also 19 keys managed by PLC, 14 with independent LED.
Says Bob Matthews: "The customised key functions are identified by the insertion of plastic strips, printed with the desired symbol or message, through slots in the back of the keyboard.
"The screen is also customisable, with WGDRAW to design the cycle editing screens with graphic assistance and data entry windows, and WINDNC to simplify the transmission of CNC screen configuration files to the CNC." The CNC 8055I is to be launched at EMO.
Says Bob Matthews: "This model has the CPU and monitor integrated in a single compact module.
It offers digital operation, requiring the connection of only two SERCOS fibre optic leads (SFO), one CAN BUS cable and AC power.
The Memory Card slot is accessible from the front panel, and it offers the same software options as the rest of the 8055 family.".
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