High-speed duo make for Birmingham

Swiss-based high speed machining specialist Mikron is showing two of the most sought after machines in its growing range at MACH 2002.

Swiss-based high speed machining specialist Mikron is showing two of the most sought after machines in its growing range at MACH 2002.

The two machines chosen for MACH are the revolutionary HSM 400U - the world's first truly high-speed five axis machining centre - and the highly successful compact precision three or four axis VCP 800 high performance machining centre.

Both machines' qualities, which can be seen at Stand 5550, are ideally suited for mould and die makers seeking to compete in ever-increasing competitive markets.

In the few months since making its world debut at EMO last year, the HSM 400U has set new standards in high speed machining.

The machine allows manufacturers to break beyond the limits traditionally associated with three axis HSM and achieve dynamic performance on all five axes simultaneously with a range of speeds and feeds to make the most complex machining of materials economical.

The HSM 400U boasts an impressive armoury aimed at dramatically cutting production times while maintaining the utmost accuracy of finish.

A high-speed tilting rotary table with liquid-cooled drives allows the HSM 400U to reach a new level of performance, with acceleration speeds up to ten times what had previously been possible.

Spindle speeds of up to 60,000rev/min combine with high torque capacity and provide rapid acceleration and deceleration, while feeds of up to 40m/min can be achieved to give extremely fast and highly accurate operation.

In addition to huge productivity gains, the HSM 400U is also designed for full automation.

An optional pallet changer with 48 workpieces, enables round-the-clock running, while further set-up savings are made possible by the Heidenhain CNC control system.

With a footprint of only 6m2, the HSM 400U is also a highly compact centre.

In contrast, the VCP 800 has earned its reputation as a stalwart for ultimate precision in three- or four-axis machining.

The VCP 800 delivers extremely high performance and a glance at its key attributes show why.

Its compact design means it takes up only 5m2 of floorspace, while its polymer concrete base gives a six-fold improvement in damping compared with cast iron.

The VCP's popularity has also been based on its design - its large door gives the operator easy access to the table from the front and side, and the table itself has a maximum workpiece weight of 400kg.

The centre's linear scales, Step-Tec spindles and Heidenhain CNC control combine to produce performance levels that are ideally suited to high precision mould and die, electrode or batch production of parts.

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