Software improves finish on maching centre

Yamazen (UK) is offering a highly accurate vertical machining centre designed to provide the levels of surface quality and integrity demanded by the mould sector

Yamazen (UK) is offering a highly accurate vertical machining centre designed to provide the levels of surface quality and integrity demanded by the mould sector.

For the Mitsubishi M-V60E-FM combines the inherent rigidity, accuracy and low vibration of the M-V60E machining centre with the advanced control capability of FM (Fine Mould) software.

This package provides the optimum solution for the high speed and high definition machining of complex 3D moulds and dies.

FM control software solves the problems of maintaining accuracy, quality and surface finish when machining mould cavities at high speed.

It has a number of features designed to minimise machining errors, direction changeover inaccuracies and vibration problems.

For example, the ultra high precision inverse transfer function ensures that path errors (the difference between command and actual positional values) not solved by feed forward control are automatically compensated for.

This means that corner machining and circular interpolation accuracy is significantly improved.

While feed direction changeover errors (which can leave protuberances at certain points) are minimised by Mitsubishi's shape recognition quadrant changing error compensation system.

Vibration can cause problems and dimensional errors, particularly on corners, even though the feed rate is reduced.

However, FM minimises the vibration caused by machining load variation through a vibration control filter and prediction control.

While for really effective high speed machining, the system uses shape adaptive control to maximise speed and feed rates while a speed control function prevents unreasonable deceleration between blocks.

This also controls acceleration by reading ahead a multiple number of blocks and this is particularly useful when machining curved surfaces.

In terms of quality, a smooth curved surface is obtained by accurately following CAD data and changing the series of cornered straight line NC data by way of 'Bezier curve' interpolation.

A NURBS interpolation system is also available.

As far as the machine is concerned, the M-V60E has axis travels of 1000 (X) by 600 (Y) by 550 mm (Z), rapid traverses of 30 m/min (X and Y) and is powered by a 30 kW AC motor with a top spindle speed of 12,000 rev/min.

The 600 by 1400 mm work table can accommodate components weighing up to 1500 kg.

The VMC is equipped with a large and rigid spindle (with 100 mm diameter bearings), MP scales for feedback control and a thermal displacement compensation system which limits positioning errors to +/- 10 æm/day, even from a cold start.

This new Mitsubishi VMC provides superior performance when it comes to the high accuracy and high quality machining of 3D surfaces.

As well as being highly productive, this advanced machine can generate surface finishes of less than 3æm.

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