VMC Capable of Heavy, Difficult Cuts without Sacrificing Accuracy

Long known for high-speed, high accuracy vertical machining centers, Chiron has developed a new range of VMCs, in twin and single spindle versions, that add extreme stiffness and greater stability to the package, allowing the machines to take heavy cuts in difficult material while maintaining accuracy. The DZ16W, with twin 12,000-rpm, HSK63A spindles, is being unveiled in the company’s booth. 

The DZ develops 200 Nm of spindle torque and features a high Kv rating (a measure of the stiffness and accuracy of the drive) of 4, 4 and 6 in the X, Y and Z axes, respectively. The machine can easily drive drills to 60 mm diameter and has a milling capability of up to 900 cm³ thanks to heavy depth of cut. Rapid traverse rates range to 600, 600, 1,000 m/sec.² in the X, Y and Z axes, respectively, with respective acceleration of 12, 12, and 14 m/sec.².

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Workpieces are mounted in two dual-position fixtures, each mounted on trunnions on opposite sides of a rotary work changer, providing the fourth axis. As one pair of workpieces is being machined, the other pair can be loaded manually or with automation from the easy-access front of the machine, losing no production time.

Fast work- and tool-change speed, combined with the 2×80 toolchanger capacity means that the machine can efficiently handle low lot sizes.

A key development for this series is the gantry-style construction rather than a C frame, which provides greater stability for the heavier cuts as well as rapid axis positioning. The base is made of a vibration-damping, highly-stable concrete material that is less sensitive to heat than cast iron or steel weldments. Even during heavy cuts, the machine runs nearly without vibration or noise, according to the company.