New Doosan 5-axis machine is another first for Mills.

Date: 15 February 2010

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, is poised to launch a new Doosan high-performance, simultaneous five-axis, vertical machining centre onto the market.

The new, compact, travelling column VC630/5AX is the first Doosan 5-axis machine that Mills has introduced into the UK and Irish markets and, news of its imminent arrival, has created a 'buzz' amongst Mills customers and throughout the manufacturing sector as a whole.

The eagerly anticipated machine is, according to Nick Frampton, Mills' managing director 'destined to be a huge success.'

The VC630/5AX is an inherently versatile 5-axis machine and has been designed for a diverse range of applications. From heavy-duty machining of difficult and hard to machine materials like titanium and inconel through to high-speed cutting of aluminium, the VC630/5AX can be relied upon for high-accuracy machining, heavy metal removal and fine finishing operations...and seemingly everything in-between. As such the machine is forecast to be a big hit with manufacturers machining high-precision, complex parts for the aerospace, defence, motorsport, medical and mould tool and die sectors.

The VC630/5AX has a rigid construction (one piece bed and heavy-ribbed Meehanite casting), and exhibits excellent vibration and heat dissipation characteristics. Although the machine has a relatively small footprint it punches well above its weight handling parts with maximum diameters of 730mm x 500mm, and maximum workpiece weights of up to 500kg.

The machine can be supplied with a choice of control (Fanuc 31i-A5 or Heidenhain iTNC 530), and is equipped with a powerful, high-torque built-in motor driven 12,000rpm spindle (22kW Fanuc; 32kW Heidenhain), and features the dual contact 'Big Plus' face and taper configuration for increased rigidity and reliability...and, as a consequence, provides users with improved part accuracy, superior surface finishes and greater contouring capability

Axis travels on the machine are 650mm x 765mm x 520mm in X, Y and Z with corresponding traverse rates of 40m/min (X), 40m/min (Y) and 36m/min (Z). The machine's 5-axis capability is delivered through the use of an A- and C- axis enabling users to machine parts (simultaneous 5-axis or via 3+2 operations) by using the VC630/5AX's trunnion (+30/-120 degrees of movement) and rotary table configuration (continuous 360 degrees of movement in the C-axis in 0.0001 increments). Rapid rates in the machine's A-axis and C-axis are 20rpm and 30rpm respectively.

The VC630/5AX is equipped with a 60 station, bi-directional, double-arm ATC (BT 40), and the machine's tool change time (T-T-T) is 1 second. Other standard features on the machine include its large capacity coolant tank (360L capacity), internal screw (augur) conveyor and automatic retractable top door for easy workpiece load/unload.

Machine tool options include a 20,000rpm spindle and coolant through spindle (20 or 70 bar).

Concludes Nick Frampton:

'The VC630/5AX will be available to customers from February 2010. Similar to other Doosan multi-axis machines we've launched into the UK and Irish markets over recent years - like our MX-series of Mill-Turn Centres - we're extremely confident about the success of this new 5-axis machine - and we're already taking enquiries for the VC630/5AX some 3 months before its availability.

'For precision manufacturers looking to increase their productivity by being able to machine complex parts in fewer set-ups (often in one-hit), the new VC630/5AX will be hard to beat...on price...and on performance.'