Adjustable Cross Rail Extends Vertical Work Zone

MAG’s adjustable-rail U6 series universal gantry mills provide a vertical W axis to accommodate tall parts. The universal machining center is designed for lean machining of large, high-value, complex-geometry parts. It also enables five-axis machining and contouring with automatically interchangeable heads designed to minimize machine downtime, part reorientation and setup. The machine's construction makes it suitable for heavy, tough cuts in big parts made of steel, titanium, crusty forgings, and aluminum, the company says. Its application versatility increases throughput and processing efficiencies and makes it suitable for the aerospace, off-road, heavy equipment, energy, die/mold, marine and mining industries.

The universal machining center can be configured with a cross rail (Y axis) ranging to 9 m (29.5 ft.), while the adjustable W axis optimizes machine stiffness and provides as much as 5 m (16.4 ft.) of vertical travel to complement a Z-axis ram ranging to 2.5 m (8.2 ft.). The combination of W, Z and Y axes offers a height and width range of 7.5 × 9 m (24.6 × 29.5 ft.) to accommodate machining in the extreme limits of the work zone and to clear large workpieces. The Z-axis ram, with a 650 × 750 mm (25.6" × 29.5") rectangular cross section, supports multiple head configurations and spindle power options, and linear feed rates ranging to 20 m/min. (787 ipm) enable fast response in heavy cuts on hard metals, the company says.

The universal machining center’s design enables the cross rail to be positioned close to the part for accurate machining with minimal ram extension and maximum stiffness. It is offered with a choice of 1-, 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-m rams.

The machining center is available in bridge-type and rail-type platforms, and can accommodate a range of part sizes and shapes. The bridge-type gantry uses a stationary support and optional X-axis pallet shuttle system that moves the part to coordinates on precision linear guideways with rack-and-pinion drives. The rail-type platform offers unlimited X-axis travel and is expandable to fit the application.

The universal machining center can be equipped with a range of high-torque or high speed spindles that output as much as 74.5 kW (100 hp) at 24,000 rpm; a choice of tapers; and vertical, horizontal or five-axis head configurations for a variety of machining requirements. Five-axis and horizontal heads feature a continuous C axis to keep the spindle in-cut without running out of C-axis travel or waiting for unwind. Tool magazines are expandable, with options to store as many as 120 tools on the bridge/moving table machine and 63 tools on the rail machine.

The center provides repeatability of 0.038 mm (0.0015") in the X axis and 0.008 mm (0.00031") in the Y and Z axes and 14 arcsecond accuracy in the C axis.