Vertical machining centre eliminates hydraulics

With the global economy improving, Turkey's automotive producers are looking to expand. Indeed the country's vehicle exports are now expected to increase to around 20% in 2011, according to SBB (Steel Business Briefing). In order to assist this growth, the new NBV vertical machining centre from MAG serves as a suitable balance of cutting performance, energy use and machine-component life for the automotive application.

Turkey's automotive industry, which was predicted at the beginning of 2010 to produce 450,000 vehicles for the year, may produce as many as 750,000, says Anatolia News Agency. Fiat Turkey's brand manager Okan Ba? is optimistic that production levels will remain high. He said the industry overcame the negative effects of the crisis thanks to decreased private consumption tax rates.

NBV vertical machining centre

The compact VMC is flush with modular application flexibility, including configurations for 3-, 4-, and 5-axis contouring or 5-axis mill/ turn work, integrated CAM support and program simulation, and four spindle options ranging up to 42,000 rpm. In addition to its hydraulic-free design, the NBV conserves energy with a selectable ECO-Mode power saving feature that automatically levels speed and acceleration for an ideal balance of cutting performance, energy use and machine-component life.

In a footprint of just 9.6 m2 (133.5 sq ft), the fixed-table NBV 700 provides X-Y-Z ranges of 700 x 600 x 500 mm (27.6 x 23.6 x 19.7 in), with table capacity of 300 kg (661 lb) [250 kg/551 lb in mill-turn config.]. Spindle options include speeds of 10,000, 12,000 (mill-turn only), 18,000, 24,000 and 42,000 rpm, offering a torque range of 125 to 12.4 Nm (92 to 9 lb ft) at 40 percent duty. A disc-type 40-tool magazine integrated in the machine bed maximises in-cut time with fast direct tool change (4.4 sec chip-to-chip), without a separate tool changer. The hydraulic-free system clamps tools with proven disc springs.

FEA-optimised for static and dynamic stiffness, the NBV is built on a single-piece cast machine bed that provides high rigidity and vibration damping for outstanding cutting performance and precision in heavy machining operations. Linear guideways on X,Y and Z axes provide ideal machine dynamics, even with larger workpieces. High-performance machining is achieved with direct-coupled digital drives, delivering rapid traverse rates up to 60 m/min (2362 ipm) and acceleration up to 6 m/s2 (19.7 ft/s2). An NC tilting/rotary table provides optional A and C axes with ±5 arc second accuracy, minimising movement of the linear axes in contour machining. The mill-turn version includes a 1000 rpm C-axis table as well.

Control options for the NBV 700 include Siemens, Bosch Rexroth, Fanuc and Heidenhain. The NBV 700 is a self-contained unit, making for easy transportation, rigging and setup. Automation and other processing options, including MQL/dry machining, robot load/unload systems and additional tool-disc magazines, are easily integrated.

To conclude, the Turkish automotive industry, which has been restructured in the crisis period, is seen to be in a more advantageous position as compared with the automotive sectors of the new EU member states, due to the strong efficiency of its workforce and its high total quality management standards.

It's not just acquiring new machines that call an essential part on the automotive business. Keeping abreast of new tooling is equally important. There is so much advancement in tooling these days, and it's important that we use the correct tool for each job.
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Facts:

Turkey's Automotive Industry

Turkey has a thriving automotive sector, demonstrating tremendous growth in the past and setting gAir Force 1