Makino at IMTS 2016: Where human ingenuity meets automation
With abundant opportunities for growth in the North American manufacturing market, Makino is set to demonstrate the latest machining and automation solutions to keep businesses thriving at the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), Sept. 12-17, at McCormick Place in Chicago. In booth S-8700 of the South Hall, attendees can experience how Makino’s latest machining centers and engineering solutions merge to create adaptive automation systems for any market or production demand, including automotive, die/mold, aerospace, medical and general production markets.
“The demand to reduce costs in today’s hypercompetitive manufacturing climate is relentless and requires North American manufacturers to invest in the highest degree of engineering and advanced technologies,” said Don Lane, president and CEO of Makino Inc. “At IMTS 2016, Makino will demonstrate how the application of human ingenuity within automation can alleviate these downward cost pressures and unlock new potential for companies to gain a competitive edge and thrive. We encourage all visitors to the Makino booth to meet with our industry-leading application and system engineers to see how Makino’s adaptive automation solutions can enable companies to prosper through the ups and downs that we continue to face in the global economy.”
All-New Products and Proven Technologies
During IMTS 2016, Makino plans to unveil a variety of all-new machine technologies. The new versions of the a51nx and a61nx horizontal machining centers provide expanded machining capacity through several productivity-enhancing features, including vision broken tool detection, enhanced levels of inertia active control and Geometric Intelligence technologies. Expanding capability and productivity for midsize part applications, IMTS 2016 will also mark the introduction of the new a71nx, a high-speed 50 taper, 500mm horizontal machining center with a standard direct-drive NC rotary table and other nx-Series next-generation technologies.
Makino is prepared to demonstrate several new vertical machining platforms as well. The L2 vertical machining center provides high-volume, small-part production capability using a minimal footprint, while the processing speeds of the new DA300 5-axis vertical machining center reduce manufacturing time and the pallet pool system helps shrink setups and keep work flowing across the spindle quickly and efficiently.
In addition, some of Makino’s proven technologies such as the EDAF3 sinker EDM machine with Hyper-i control shows faster servo speeds in multi-axis machining and features an on-board Alicona measuring system. The U6 H.E.A.T. wire EDM machine is set to demonstrate its on-board CAM software and easy part setup using offline part loading and a manual shuttle system. The EDBV8 EDM hole drill is going to be on hand to showcase fast hole-drilling for blade and vane machining.
Finally, the aerospace theater is streaming video of the T-series 5-axis horizontal machining centers built for titanium aerospace machining.
Human Ingenuity Meets Automation
There’s no doubt that automation helps companies reduce costs and increase throughput to remain globally competitive. Makino’s booth is designed to demonstrate a variety of automation systems, as detailed below:
– A Makino Machining Complex (MMC2) pallet-handling system with an a61nx-5E 5-axis horizontal machining center showcases high-mix, low-volume production with improved machine utilization and exceptionally high material-removal rates.
– The a51nx-5xu 5-axis horizontal machining center, designed with a unique work-holding magazine and large-tool magazine, can perform continuous 5-axis machining unattended for extended hours in both high-mix, low-volume and low-mix, high-volume production environments.
– A custom, automated system includes the newly updated a51nx horizontal machine with 60-tool magazine and EROWA robot multi-ERM system.
– The J3 horizontal machining center with stacked axes design enables it to be easily and reliably integrated into high-volume automation concepts. Two machines are included in this cell to demonstrate serial processing of repetitive, high-volume parts.
– A die/mold automation cell featuring an EDNC6 sinker EDM and V33i-5XB 5-axis vertical machining center with an EROWA ERC is set up to demonstrate low-volume, high-mix production of mold components while achieving utilization rates approaching 85 percent.
– The a40 high-performance horizontal machining center with overhead gantry system performs high-volume, parallel processing of small, nonferrous, die-cast parts.
Manufacturers are certainly using these automation tools to improve productivity, reduce costs and produce quality parts, but there is potential to deliver even better efficiency through an enterprise connected by the Internet of Things (IoT). Learn how this technology is changing the factory floor and is expected to serve up disruption as well as opportunity over the next few years.
Lunch & Learn Sessions
In addition to the demonstrations and displays at IMTS, Makino plans to host Lunch & Learn events throughout the week. Each session includes presentations from Makino customers discussing real-world manufacturing challenges, and how they applied technology to their operations to become more competitive and more profitable. Lunch & Learn presentations offer relevant information to attendees from a wide array of industries and manufacturing environments, including automotive, aerospace, medical, die and mold, and more. This year’s guest presentations currently include Tennessee Tool & Engineering (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), Turbine Technologies (Farmington, Conn.) and Dynamic NC (Rose Hill, Kan.).
