Midaco's Automatic Pallet Changer Provides Quick Changes

Midaco manufactures a line of automatic pallet changer systems which adapt to any brand vertical machining center (VMC) or bridge mill with pallet sizes from 22" × 15" up to 190" × 72" with a 32,000 lb capacity.

The A4020SD mid-size automatic pallet changer is designed for VMC’s with an approximate travel of 40"(x) × 20"(y). The automatic shuttle system comes standard with two aluminum or cast iron pallets that measure 40" × 19" × 1.5" (1016 mm × 482.6 mm × 38.1 mm) and can be mounted on either the left or right side of the machine tool. Easily integrated to the machine tool via M-codes, the shuttle is servo driven and automatically switches pallets in approximately 15 seconds depending on the weight of the parts. The A4020SD’s standard 1,000 lb (454 kg) capacity pneumatic receiver is mounted directly onto the machine tool table and reportedly ensures a repeatability of ±0.0001" (.0025 mm). A 2,000 lb (908 kg) capacity receiver option is also available. All automatic pallet changer systems offer a three-sided CE Light Curtain safety guarding option composed of light emitters sensors and mirrors without any overhead obstructions. Midaco says the pallet change will not occur if the light curtain is breached.

Midaco's A40SD series automatic pallet changer can be modified to mount a robot or cobot arm directly on the pallet changer control panel for enhanced collaborative automation. Combined with Midaco’s Hydraulic Docking System on the A40SD pallets, fixtures and vises are automatically clamped (and unclamped) and sent into the machining center without the need for any hose management. According to Midaco, the clamping fixtures or vises will stay charged on the pallet while in the machining center. This modification enables the robot or cobot to set-up parts on the pallet changer outside of the VMC while the spindle is cutting, freeing the operator to perform other tasks.