Machining Centers Designed for Productivity, Reliability for Automotive

Mazak introduces the UN series of high-speed vertical and horizontal machining centers with the UN-600/30V, a VMC, and the UN-600/30H, an HMC. Intended for the mass production of automotive components, these #30-taper machines feature a small footprint as indicated by their UN (ultra-narrow) designation and are as much as three times more productive per unit of floor space than normal-sized machines, the company says. The automation-friendly machines enable multiple machines to be placed together and tended by one robot.

The UN-600/30V VMC accommodates a maximum workpiece diameter of approximately 23.6". This is made possible by interpolating the machine’s C and Y axes for the X axis, which is programmed in the same way as a conventional machine’s X axis. The machining center offers 20-tool storage capacity.

The UN-600/30H HMC has the same maximum workpiece diameter of 23.6", and is substantially smaller than other horizontal machining centers in its class, the company says. This is achieved by the machine having a compound X axis, whereby half of the axis stroke is on the machine table and the other half is on the machine column. The machining center features a 30-tool storage capacity.

Integral spindle motors provide faster acceleration/deceleration for higher productivity. Both machines feature high-speed, 20,000-rpm spindles that accelerate to top speeds in 0.55 sec. and can perform synchronized tapping at 8,000 rpm.

The linear guides and ballscrews are isolated from the machining area to prevent problems caused by the accumulation of machined chips. Additionally, areas of the machine that require frequent access, such as the lubrication and air inlets, are centrally located for convenient maintenance to ensure high machine reliability.