Makino Introduces V56i for Large Part Hardmilling of 50+ HRc

Auburn Hills, Michigan– Makino has upgraded its V56 vertical machining center. The new V56i, designed specifically for large part, high-speed hardmilling, will provide users with tighter accuracies, sustained dynamic performance, superior surface finishes, and long hours of continuous, unattended operation.

“Shops can’t afford to let an operator baby-sit a machine because their machine loses accuracy,” says Bill Howard, Makino product manager. “Our new line of vertical machining centers, including the V33i and V56i, give shops the confidence to run complex, long-running jobs in hardened materials accurately, reducing scrap, reducing overhead, and making every job more profitable.”

The V56i’s refined spindle provides increased stiffness and rigidity to reduce potential chatter during machining of 50+ HRc materials. An enhanced machine design reduces potential machine movement and associated thermal growth, common errors that could induce inaccuracy during long die and mold applications. These additional features help retain superior accuracy during long periods of unattended operation.

The V56i’s worktable is 1,050 x 550 mm with associated travels of 900 mm (X) x 550 mm (Y) x 450 mm (Z). The machine workzone will accommodate a maximum workpiece size of 1,050 mm x 720 mm x 450 mm. The V56i is equipped with the latest version of Makino’s Super Geometric Intelligence (SGI.4) control software to improve feedrates, accuracy, and reduce part cycle times by 40% – or more – compared with the prior generation of software.

Refined Spindle
Makino’s V56i includes a shorter spindle for a stiffer, more rigid milling platform than other vertical machining centers of its size. The decreased spindle length allows the V56i to operate – vibration free – through a greater range of spindle RPMs with reduced chatter, improved surface finish, and extended tool life. Additionally, an improved lubrication system design provides greater control (or elimination) of spindle thermal growth which typically occurs during long and continuous, high-speed hardmilling of die and mold applications.

The V56i comes standard with a 25 HP, 20,000-rpm spindle. For higher speed machining, Makino offers an optional 30,000 spindle. Spindle nose configurations are available in Cat #40, HSK 63A and 63F and HSK – E50 to support a wide variety of tooling and applications.

The machine’s strength and accuracy is due in part to its massive castings. Integral, hardened and ground, hand-scraped guideways provide outstanding geometric tolerances and extremely precise positioning and repeatability. The no-overhang, fully supported construction insures peak motion performance with no lost motion or unsupported components during motion – which guarantees tight dynamic tolerances for hardmilling of complex, three-dimensional, sculptured surfaces.

Cooling and Lubrication
Makino’s V-series high speed spindle features a patented spindle core cooling system which circulates chilled coolant through the spindle and bearing packages, dramatically reducing spindle growth. The increased lubricant flow of the V56i further minimizes thermal growth for superior accuracy and increased bearing life.

Overall structural temperature control has been enhanced with advanced cooling technologies such as core-cooled ball screws, lubricated ball nuts, a servo motor cooling jacket system, temperature controlled passageways. Greater temperature control through-out the machine minimizes thermal growth during cutting, providing sustainable, long-term, dynamic accuracy.

Makino is a global provider of advanced machining technology and application support for the metalcutting and die/mold industries, dedicated to driving out more costs from your manufacturing operation than any other competitive machine tool manufacturer. Makino manufacturing and service centers are located in the United States, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Italy, France, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, China, Mexico, Brazil, and India, and are supported by a worldwide distributor network. For more information call 1.800.552.3288.
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