MWCS 2013: The best of productivity with CNC flexibility from Mikron

The three main factors which appeal to users of the new MIKRON Multistar NX-24 Rotary Machining System from an economical perspective are outstanding productivity, full flexibility and highest precision. With this the machine is a player in the very top league. With its number of cycling steps, it almost achieves the productivity of fully mechanical machines. All axis are programmable, which saves significantly down-time when changing over the machine from one part to the other.

Mikron SA Agno still offers the world’s most productive and fastest Rotary Machining System amongst it’s line of Transfer Machines. It achieves up to 150  per minute and thus can produce up to 520 parts per minute when equipped with four cycles per machine. The machine is designed for high output, large volume production but, because it is fully mechanically controlled, change-over can take time. The new CNC-controlled Multistar NX-24 increases flexibility significantly and this with only slight reduction in the output capability. Therefore it is especially suitable where different types of work pieces must be produced in quantities from a few hundred up to many thousands of parts, within accuracies in the hundredths of a millimeter range. The machine is of great interest to industries such as the automotive, watches, medical devices, climate control systems, etc.

Simultaneous machining at all workstations

All axis are programmable and the control unit's clearly laid out operator interface simplifies rapid programing and quick product changes. However, the machine still has a range of additional unique features, which are attracting considerable attention from specialists in this field.

-For example, the Multistar NX-24 is equipped with 24 workstations and up to 44 machining units and to 60 axis. All axis work simultaneously, which is how the machine achieves its extraordinarily high output. Work pieces are machined completely. Complete machining also includes processes like deep hole drilling, turning over the work piece (repositioning/reclamping), in-process measuring and compensation, as well as complete and perfect deburring. This is how the machine produces, for example, 8.5 injection nozzles per minute for the automotive industry.

-Because all axis are CNC-programmable, changeover is done mainly by software programming. Compared with machines with mechanical control, this means significant time saving. With different types of work pieces, with maximum diameters of 35 mm and maximum lengths of up to 65 mm, the Multistar NX-24 achieves costs per part which are economically highly attractive.

-Mikron is known for high precision machining operations. For example, the machine can produce special watch screws with M 0.8 threads and corresponding surface finishes without difficulty.

-Machining happens simultaneously on the 24 workstations. Each workstation can machine two sides simultaneously — from above and below, from above and from one side or from below and from one side. The work piece can also be turned over also from square to round section.

Once around the cycle — work piece finished

On one hand, the machine's compact design means that temperature has less an influence in the machining area. On the other hand, the machine's very sturdy construction guards against the effect of vibrations. Turning the rotary table through 15° to the next work station occurs in 0.6 seconds. Indexing pins then lock the table with an accuracy of ± 2.5 μm for the next machining operation. The table can be equipped with different clamping collets.

The work piece blank is fed to the first workstation and clamped in the collet; the completely machined work piece is ejected in the last work station. Hence there are 22 work stations for the machining operation.

The machine can be equipped with different clamping collets, wAir Presto Flyknit Ultra