GF Machining Solutions will showcase several of its new and innovative manufacturing technologies in booth 529 at the Exposition for Technology, Manufacturing and Solutions (ETMS) October 25-27 in Queretaro, Mexico. Visitors to the GF Machining Solutions booth will discover how such innovations as the Laser P 1000 U laser texturing system, Mikron HSM 500 MoldMaster (MM) high-speed milling machine and the AgieCharmilles CUT E 350 wire EDM help manufacturers keep pace with ever-increasing demands for higher output/productivity.
At ETMS, the Laser P 1000 U will represent GF Machining Solutions’ new laser texturing product line that enables efficient and repeatable texturing, engraving, micro structuring, marking and labeling of 2D or 3D geometries. Machines in this series employ fully digitized laser texturing processes to engrave a wide variety of materials including steel, aluminum, carbide, brass, graphite, copper and ceramics.
The mapping system of the LASER P 1000 U uses a pulsed laser to render the desired texturing. While traditional chemical etching can only produce three to five layers, GF Machining Solutions’ laser texturing technology can achieve 30 to 50 layers to provide much higher levels of detail. This allows for greater creativity in part design and makes the machines ideal for use in the production of packaging mold designs and for complex surface texturing of molds for automotive lighting modules, airbags, interiors and many other components.
Designed with today’s mold and die makers in mind and as an all-in-one production system, the HSM 500 MM packs specific features and capabilities that give shops the versatility to produce a wide scope of mold and die related components – from 58 Rc steel mold cores to hot pressing dies and even sinkerEDM electrodes for intricate mold cavities – all with one machine tool.
The HSM 500 MM provides speed, precision and rigidity. For high-speed, the machine is equipped with a 42,000-rpm HSK spindle that uses ceramic hybrid ball bearings with oil-air minimal lubrication, as well as liquid cooled stator jacket and bearings. This vector controlled motor spindle ensures extremely fast acceleration to full speed as well as high torque at low speeds. As a complement to the high-speed spindle, the machine cuts at feedrates up to 784.4 ipm (20 m/min) and rapid traverses as fast as 1,574.8 ipm (42 m/min).
As standard, the HSM 500 MM comes equipped with graphite extraction system touch probe capability and absolute optical linear scales with 20-nanometer step resolution on its X, Y, and Z axes for extremely precise machine positioning. Also, the machine minimizes any thermal effects on accuracy through its polymer granite base material and liquid-cooled feed and drive motors, spindle motor and electrical cabinet.
The HSM 500 MM’s portal construction, which is a pyramid-shaped design, delivers stability and high rigidity yet allows for a compact machine footprint. All machine cross slides are weight optimized and fulfill the requirements for highly dynamic machine motion.
As the first in GF Machining Solutions’ new CUT E Series of high performance and high productivity wire EDMs, the CUT E 350 features a new, large touchscreen human-machine interface (HMI) that is intuitive in operation and includes onboard Intelligent Collision Protection, built-in machining strategies and flexible job management.
Information about geometries, machining processes and command programs is processed in a single file which allows jobs to be transferred among different machines in the CUT E Series, with the machines automatically managing all needed modifications. Additionally, more than 10 automated measurement cycles are available to assist with workpiece preparation, and the onboard AC CAM Easy allows an operator to prepare an ISO file and post-process it into a job during machining.
About GF Machining Solutions
GF Machining Solutions is the world’s leading provider of machines, automation solutions and services to the tool and mold making industry and to manufacturers of precision components. The products range from electric discharge machines, high-speed and high-performance milling machines, including clamping and palletization systems, and 3D laser surface texturing machines, to services, spare parts and expendable parts, consumables and automation solutions. GF Machining Solutions is a globally acting division of the Georg Fischer Group (Switzerland) and maintains a presence on 50 sites worldwide within its own organization. Its 3,008 employees generated sales of CHF 905 million in 2014.
More information can be found at www.gfms.com/us.
