Clearview National April 2016 - Issue 173 | Page 114

MACHINERY

Sometimes more is more
»»IN LAST MONTH’S EDITION OF
Clearview Andy Bates, production support and
training manager at elumatec UK, explained
some of the basic capabilities of CNC machining
and how this type of machine can improve your
manufacturing process.
This month he looks at the configuration and
benefits of larger more complex four and five
axes CNC profile machining centres.
Andy Bates: “Machines with four and fiveaxis machines tend to be larger than the threeaxis models.
“For this article, I’ll refer to the elumatec SBZ
140, a four-axis CNC Profile machining centre
which has a footprint of around 12m x 3.5m
“The SBZ 140 can handle a profile of
dimensions: X (length) 7600mm, Y (width)
300mm and Z (height) 250mm
“As well as being able to work larger profile
sections the other benefit of a four-axis machine
like the SBZ 140 is its larger working area. This
has the facility to be split into two working
zones, each of which can process a profile of
around 3400mm in length.
“In this configuration one side of the machine
can be working while a second profile length
is being loaded onto the other side. Once
the machining operation on the first side has
finished, the SBZ 140 moves to the opposite side
and machines the profile length at that end. This
means you are working faster as you are always
cutting metal rather than having down time
while your operative loads a new part.
“The SBZ 140 can also be run as one large
station processing a bar of up to 7600mm – a

length often needed for curtain wall projects or
large bi-folding or sliding doors. Larger machines
also have more tool places - normally between
eight and 20.”
Clearview: “So what are the benefits of the ‘A’
axis - the fourth axis?”
Andy Bates: “The fourth axis on a profile
machining centre allows the spindle that drives
the tool to rotate around the profile and is
referred to as the A axis.
“This allows machining operations to be
performed on any angle between 0° and 180°
in relation to the X axis. This gives greater
machining possibilities over a three-axis machine
for the following reasons.
1. A gearbox is not required for working on
the front and rear of the profile. This offers more
flexibility than the three-axis machines as all
eight tools can be used on the front, back and
angled faces instead of only the two tools in the
gearbox on the three-axis machine.
2. Operations can be performed on faces that
are on an angle or on round tubes.”
Clearview: “That’s a fairly comprehensive
specification. So what are the benefits of buying
a five-axis machine?”
Andy Bates: “The next step up is a five-axis
CNC Profile Machining Centre. elumatec’s
SBZ 150 and SBZ 15