Machine tools sold right off the stand
Managing director of 600 Machine Tools, Cliff Purser, pronounced the 2008 show ‘a great success’ in view of the number of visitors that visited the company’s stand, and the number of genuine enquiries received.
He said: “Australia’s workshop managers have known 600 Group machine tools for five decades, and we were delighted to welcome many long-standing customers from all over the country.”
The machines on show in Sydney were all selected for a range of tasks, from complex prototyping to high-speed production runs:
• A Fanuc Robodrill performed 3D machining at a spindle-speed of 24,000 rpm. The a-i series offers versatile machining, including drilling, tapping, milling and profiling. Visitors were surprised by the machine’s ability to accurately execute complex 3D machining at such high speeds.
• Attracting a lot of enquiries was the Joemars AWT 455S, a high-performance wire-cut EDM. It showed its phenomenal cutting rate and 99% reliability on wire threading. A rigid frame, and good thermal balance allow precision machining to produce extremely fine surface on the workpiece.
• YCM showed its latest model – the XV102A vertical machining centre – which can machine complex shapes. In addition, this precision manufacturer showcased its sturdily-built GT250B lathe. Mr Purser noted that both machines are now performing well in NSW workshops.
• Visitors were intrigued by the Colchester Tornado T8MSY, a true multi-axis turning centre with a Y-axis for highly-efficient milling, This remarkable 7-axis machine, delivers ‘off centre line’ milling (± 40mm max), and visitors watched it precision-machining tiny dice.
Mr Purser explained that, by transferring the component to the second spindle, additional tuning and milling can be completed to finish the job in a ‘single hit.’ “For even greater levels of unmanned productivity, the T8MSY can be supplied with a ‘Lights Out’ production package,” he added.
• The most popular demo was The Harrison Alpha 1550XS, with the latest Fanuc Manual Guide i CNC control system. With up to 3m between centres, this is a big lathe with a swing-over bed and great spindle torque at low speeds. It was shown machining a massive railway axle.
• The Colchester Triumph VS2500 centre lathe is built to deliver precision, power, and durability. A number of workshop managers remarked on how the combination of Constant Surface Speed and an electronically-variable spindle-drive delivered cutting performance better than many CNC lathes.
Mr Purser fielded many technical questions about the Alpha XT, a ‘no frills’ machine that boasts the latest Fanuc control, together with smart new graphics and diagnostics. It’s available in Australia at keen prices, without any sacrifice of speed, accuracy, or reliability.
“Altogether, the 2008 show was a good investment for 600 Machine Tools,” he said. “In addition to a raft of serious enquiries, both the YCM machines were sold off the stand – the XV1020A machining centre and the GT250B lathe.”
He added: “Needless to say, we’ll be back next year.”
More at www.600machinery.com.au
Webmaster on 11.21.08 @ 06:06 PM CST [read full article here]
