Fanuc take productivity further with Alpha ‘F’ series launch
The latest developments from the latest Fanuc Alpha VMC will be launched at EMO 2007 in Hannover.
Among the latest developments incorporated into the latest Fanuc Alpha vertical machining centre is a 35 per cent increase in torque for the new 10,000 revs/min spindle that enables larger holes in steel to be drilled from solid. A patent pending high speed toolchange mechanism now enables a ‘chip-to-chip’ time of just 1.6 secs to be achieved across the machine range to be launched at EMO 2007 in Hannover.
Available from 600 Centre in Shepshed, Loughborough, the ‘F’ Series machine range, comprising the Fanuc Alpha T14 and T21iF, is available with 14 and 21 tool magazine capacities and in Compact, Standard and Extended (FL) versions, each differentiated by X-axis travels of 300 mm, 500 mm and 700 mm respectively.
A key feature of the Fanuc VMC range has always been the high productivity achieved by combining fast axis movements and rapid accelerations and the ‘F’ Series continues this tradition with axis movements of 54 m/min, an improved acceleration of 1.5g and ultra-quick 1.6 secs cut-to-cut toolchange.
With the addition of the higher torque 10,000 revs/min spindle option, larger drills and combination tools can be used to include step tools for chamfering, for instance. A high speed 24,000 revs/min spindle is also available as an option. As part of the Fanuc development programme, a fourth axis unit with built-in, backlash-free synchronous servomotor drive provides a rotational speed of 150 revs/min. This unit takes just 0.4 secs to index 180o.
For five-axis machining applications 3-D cutter compensation is now available through the high specification Fanuc 31i-A5 control and in order to maintain precision, 3-D contouring compensation is incorporated to overcome any thermal displacement.
The well-proven NURBS interpolation software, Fanuc’s A1 contour control with 200 block advanced read ahead can now be obtained with option of 1,000 block advance. Meanwhile, the high speed, up to 8,000 revs/min rigid tapping with quick extraction cycles, is included in the specification. This provides an override up to 20 times the normal infeed rate.
The Fanuc Alpha T14 and T21 are both available in three sizes each with a Z-axis travel of 330 mm. The Compact has 300 mm in X and option of either 300 mm or 400 mm in Y, the Standard has a working envelope of 500 mm in X and 300 mm in Y while the ‘FL’ has 700 mm in X and 400 mm in Y.
For further information, contact:
David Wilkinson (Sales Director - 600 Centre)
Tel: +44 (0)1509 600600
Mike Wildish (Wildish Communications)
Tel: +44 (0) 1634 832221
