Makino A99E

Makino A99 text The A99 horizontal machining center is the latest addition to Makino's highly advanced line of A-Series machining centers. With x, y and z axis travels of 39.4 x 39.4 x 37.4" (1,000 x 1,000 x 950mm) and a spindle speed range from 0 to 12,000 rpm, it is the largest and fastest of the line, which includes the A55 Delta, A66 and A77. Engineered for high-speed machining of medium to large workpieces including cast iron diesel blocks and heads, the 31.5" (800mm) square pallet has a maximum workzone of 43.3"d x 47.2"h (1,100 x 1,200mm) and accepts loads up to 3,960 lbs. (1,800kg). The A99's unique column design and core cooled ball screws allow cutting feedrates and rapid traverse rates of 1,968 ipm (50m/min.). Proven spindle rigidity supports the use of large diameter tools for heavy cutting with impressive metal removal rates of 60 cu. in./min. for a wide range of materials. The A99 includes a standard 7/24 50 taper tool interface, but to enhance machin ing performance further, an HSK-A100 spindle is available, as well as an 18,000 rpm spindle option. Shortening Machining Times, Reducing Non-Cut Times The spindle assembly features an integrated rotor/stator/spindle shaft for reduced vibration during high-speed operation as well as faster acceleration and deceleration. Low spindle vibration improves machined surface quality and extends tool life. Additionally, the two X-axis guides that direct column movement are positioned at different heights to reduce the column weight for enhanced acceleration performance (0.5 G). The spindle accelerates quickly to 12,000 rpm in just 5.6 seconds, and to 10,000 rpm in 3.6 seconds, shortening machining time substantially. The A99's rigid feed mechanism is constructed of No. 50 ball nut screws driven by 7.3 kW servomotors, enabling heavy structural parts like the column and table to move at high speed. Quickly executed machine movements provide a significant reduction in non-cutting time. The A99 reaches its top speed of 1,968 ipm in just 2.8" of movement. Also contributing to reducing non-cut time is the 1.5 second tool change with a 4.9 second chip-to-chip time. Thermal Stability Makino's advanced spindle core cooling system, a standard feature on all A-Series machines, circulates a large volume of temperature controlled cooling oil through the center of the spindle to cool it directly from the inside. Additionally, with under race lubrication, cooling oil flowing through the spindle is circulated through holes in the inner bearing races to lubricate the bearings. The adoption of this cooling and lubrication technology combined with core-cooled ball screws makes it possible to achieve greater rigidity, enhanced accuracy and faster machining speeds. Accurate Positioning The A99's highly rigid bed allows the use of a three-point leveling system and assures precise squareness and straightness in every axis, even when loaded with the heaviest allowable workpieces or during movement. Direct acting bearings withstand ultra-heavy loads and are supported by guideways, which are hand-scraped to a precision finish. Along with bed rigidity, these measures effectively prevent minute deflections caused by load shifts. In addition, special cooling enables superior precision by controlling the effects of thermal distortion in the bed and column. Innovative Chip Handling The A99 comes with a 700mm wide center trough positioned directly under the table for efficient chip removal. The scraper conveyor in the trough efficiently evacuates all chips and coolant outside the machine. The extra wide trough also reduces the coolant flow rate for reduced foaming in the coolant tank. Geometric Intelligence Geometric Intelligence (GI), another Makino standard, permits high feedrates with measurably higher accuracy over entire part routines and with shorter total cycle times. Using "look ahead" algorithms, GI software predicts and compensates for machine dynamics providing unmatched feeds and accuracy. The A-Series' PRO3 control and easy-to-use graphic interface simplify programming of toolpaths for different parts. A-Series The A-Series machining centers are Makino's answer to high-productivity machining for a wide range of components. With high metal removal rates, fast feedrates, greater accuracy, greater stability and increased overall productivity, Makino's machining centers provide demonstrably higher quality, shorter time-to-market, and the flexibility to meet changing production volumes, shorter part life cycles and reduced machining costs. Makino is a global provider of advanced machining technology and application support for the metalcutting and die/mold industries. Makino manufacturing and service centers in the United States, Germany, Japan and Singapore are supported by a worldwide distributor network. For more information visit Makino's Web Site at www.makino.com