Makino Enhances the a51nx and a61nx HMC Platforms

Building on the performance and reliability of its top-performing horizontal machine platforms, Makino offers the high-capability a51nx and a61nx horizontal machining centers. With the same rigid casting and axis designs of the original platforms, the current generation a51nx and a61nx feature an expanded list of technology advancements, including increased spindle torque, innovative tool monitoring, advanced motion controls and the Makino Professional 6 control.

Several enhancements have been made to reduce non-cut time on the updated a51nx and a61nx machines. A vision-type broken-tool sensor (Vision B.T.S.) comes standard, supporting unattended operation by quickly validating the condition of cutting tools after each tool change. By creating a silhouette of the cutting tools, Vision B.T.S. is also able to detect the length, size and approximate weight of the tool. This information can then be applied to automatically set the tool-change speed to the appropriate setting (fast, medium or slow). The Vision B.T.S. system has fewer moving parts and requires no physical contact with the cutting tool, allowing for enhanced, long-term reliability and less risk of chipping delicate tool materials, such as polycrystalline diamond (PCD).

Inertia active control (IAC) technology has also been expanded for greater efficiency. In addition to optimizing positioning motion of the rotational B-axis, IAC technology is now able to improve acceleration and deceleration rates along the Z axis—the most frequently moved axis during cutting processes. IAC has also been added to the rotation of the ring-type tool magazine. Each time tools are loaded into the magazine, IAC quickly evaluates the total weight held in the ring and adjusts acceleration to match the total load for reducing the time the tool magazine seeks tools.

See the a51nx and a61nx at Makino’s booth in the South Hall at IMTS 2018.