Five-Axis HMC’s Thermal Stability Maintains Precision

Heller’s FP 4000 five-axis HMC provides twin drives in the Z axis for flexibility and high precision, particularly in tool and die or contract manufacturing. Five-axis kinematics are provided by the tool in the X, Y, C and/or A axis, and by two axes provided by the workpiece in Z and B. The fifth axis is provided by the tool and is the basis for achieving maximum process dependability, the company says.

The HSK63 10,000-rpm spindle provides 44 kW of power and 242 Nm of torque. This spindle power is available at any spatial angle, the company says. As a result, the FP 4000 enables heavy-duty cutting, combined milling and drilling operations, or five-sided machining in a single setup. Even in five-axis simultaneous milling, the machine maintains dimensional and contouring accuracy as well as economic efficiency. A 16,000-rpm, 40-kW machining head is available as an option.

Providing work envelope accessibility and robust axis drives, the HMC has a work area measuring 800 × 800 × 1,045 mm. The machining center handles workpiece loads ranging to 1,400 kg on a 500 × 630-mm pallet. In combination with a flexible pallet system, system availability can exceed 90 percent without restrictions in terms of chip removal rate when equipped with the PCU 63 Power Cutting Universal swivel head unit, the company says.

According to Heller, temperature curves of a five-axis machine inevitably vary throughout a day of production; but thanks to the construction and thermal stability of this machine, temperature does not influence its precision. Absolute-encoded, direct-measuring systems, high-resolution rotary encoders and YRT bearings with integrated measuring system promote micron-range precision.

The machine is available with a 54-, 80-, 160-, 240- or 409-position tool magazine and a Siemens 840D sl control.