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Productivity Advantages of Cellular Manufacturing



At IMTS 2014, Mazak featured its VARIAXIS i-700 vertical machining center (VMC) with advanced multiple surface, simultaneous 5-axis capabilities as part of a highly productive manufacturing cell that performed continuous processing of complex aerospace components.

"On its own, the VARIAXIS i-700 accurately processes long parts as well as those with complex profiled surfaces in single set-ups," said a company spokesperson. "And when paired with a two-pallet changer, palletized automation system and horizontal machining center (HMC), it plays an important role in offering extreme levels of production flexibility and unattended operations."

With a Y-axis travel of 43.30" and X-axis of 23.62", the VARIAXIS i-700 accommodates workpieces measuring up to 33.46" in diameter and 19.68" high. Its roller gear cam-driven rotary/tilt table, with 360° of rotation in the C-axis and +30° through -120° of tilt in the A-axis, is supported at both ends and provides stable, high-accuracy machining.

An 18,000 RPM, 30 HP 40-taper spindle on the VARIAXIS i-700 features a compact nose design that helps increase the machine's Z-axis stroke to 23.62" and overall machining stability by allowing for the use of shorter tools. A 30-tool automatic tool changer adds part processing flexibility and contributes to continuous, non-interrupted machining operations.

"With fast 2,362 and 2,205 rapid traverse speeds in the X, Y and Z axes, respectively, as well as the enhanced durability, reliability and speed of its MX Hybrid Roller Guide System, the VARIAXIS i-700 achieves an overall increase in accuracy, productivity and profitability," said the spokesperson. Mazak designed its MX Hybrid Roller Guide System to increase vibration dampening, extend tool life, handle higher load capacities and eliminate tramp oil in the coolant by utilizing a greener grease-based lubrication system.

The VARIAXIS i-700 features the company's MATRIX 2 CNC for optimized 5-axis machining. Within the control are both enhanced hardware and software functionalities that are designed to make the control easy to use while also delivering high accuracy and increased productivity. "Control hardware performance is faster with higher processing speeds for small increment operation," said the spokesperson. "The software's 5-axis spline interpolation function provides smooth tool paths from long block-by-block programs, easy tool vector control and shorter cycle times as well as enhanced 5-axis surface finishes."

For those seeking continuous part processing, the VARIAXIS i-700 pairs with a two-pallet changer. This automation feature enhances productivity by allowing operators to load, unload and inspect a part on one pallet, while the machine continues to work on a part fixtured on the other pallet.

As seen at IMTS 2014, a VARIAXIS i-700 equipped with a standard two-pallet changer and Mazak's PMC-WEB cell controller software easily integrates with the company's exclusive PALLETECH Automation System. Through this pre-engineered palletized system, the VARIAXIS i-700 can combine with one of Mazak's HORIZONTAL CENTER NEXUS (HCN) machining centers - the HCN 5000 III in the case of IMTS - to create a complete Done-In-One manufacturing cell for lights-out part-processing operations.

For more information contact:

Tasha Riddell

Mazak Corporation

P.O. Box 970

Florence, KY 41022-0970

859-342-1700

triddell@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

Southwest

Dana R. Scott

Mazak SW Technology Center

10950 Greenbend Blvd.

Houston, TX 77667

281-931-7770

dscott@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

LA

Richard Cahn

Dixie Mill Machine Tools Co.

901 Tchoupitoulass Street

New Orleans, LA 70152

504-525-6101

800-462-9519

rcahn@dixiemill.com

www.dixiemill.com

OK, AR

Butch Cumminsky

David James

Machinery Resources Inc.

5550 South 94th East Avenue

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-622-6495

800-448-1878

butch@mritul.com

www.mritul.com

N. TX

Chris Papke

Mazak Corporation

2000 East Lamar Blvd, Ste. 600

Arlington, TX 76006

800-642-6110

El Paso, TX

Felipe Arvizo

Magnum Precision Machines Inc.

12025 Rojas Dr. Suite A

El Paso, TX 79936

915-856-7900

farvizo@magnumep.com

www.magnumprecisionmachines.com

NM

Chris Edgar

Magnum Precision Machines, Inc.

8448 Washington Place NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

505-345-8389

cedgar@magnumabq.com

www.magnumprecisionmachines.com

Southeast

Dave Kennedy

Mazak Southeast Technology Center

1075 Northbrook Parkway

Suwanee, GA 30024

678-985-4800

dkennedy@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

TN

Dennis McCurry

Pinnacle Machine Tools, Inc.

5912-A Toole Drive

Knoxville, TN 37919

865-951-0260

mccurry@pinnaclemachine.net

AL

Jerry Edwards

Pinnacle Machine Tool Inc.

141 Nick Fitcheard Road

Huntsville, AL 35806

256-852-0900

edwards@pinnaclemachine.net

NC, VA

Rick Smith

MachineTech, Inc.

8100-J Arrowridge Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28273

704-665-6301

rick@machinetechcnc.com

www.machinetechcnc.com

GA, SC

Tim Kramer

Premier Engineering Co.

1635 Lakes Pkwy. Ste. U

Lawrenceville, GA 30043-5858

678-442-8382

tim@premierengineering.com

www.premierengineering.com

MS

Richard Cahn

Dixie Mill Machine Tools Co.

901 Tchoupitoulass Street

New Orleans, LA 70152

504-525-6101

rcahn@dixiemill.com

www.dixiemill.com

FL

John Grabenau

Premier Machinery Inc.

990 Sunshine Lane

Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

407-786-2000

doc@premierequipment.com

www.premierequipment.com

Northeast

New England, E. NY, NJ

Steve Wilkins

Mazak Northeast Technology Center

700 Old County Cir.

Windsor Locks, CT 06096

800-436-8900 / 860-292-4400

SWilkins@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

E. PA, MD, DE

Jim Rutan

Mazak Mid Atlantic Office

1275 Glenlivet Drive

Allentown, PA 18106

jrutan@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

W. NY

Bill Miller

A.W. Miller Technical Sales

East Aurora, NY

716-652-8282

bmiller@awmiller.com

www.awmiller.com

W. PA

Russ Weis

A.W. Miller Technical Sales

3 Tara Drive

PO Box 220

Harmony, PA 16037

724-453-1690

rweis@awmiller.com

www.awmiller.com

Midwest

Kevin Bates

Mazak Midwest Technology Center

300 East Commerce Drive

Schaumburg, IL 60173

847-885-8311

kbates@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

ND, SD, MN

Joel Lundin

Tony Bailey

Northwest Machine Technologies, Inc.

20851 Commerce Blvd.

Rogers, MN 55374

763-493-3660

tbailey@nwmtec.com

www.nwmtec.com

NE, W. IA

Duane Ohlrich

Industrial Systems & Supply Inc.

2760 E. 29th Avenue

Columbus, NE 68601

402-564-4445

ohlrich@industrial-systems-supply.com

www.industrial-systems-supply.com

E. IA

Kevin Bates

Mazak Midwest Technology Center

300 East Commerce Drive

Schaumburg, IL 60173

847-885-8311

kbates@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

MO, S. IL

Bill Summers

Municipal Tool & Machinery Co.

2465 Rock Island Blvd.

Maryland Heights, MO 63043

314-994-9905

bsummers@municipaltool.com

www.municipaltool.com

KS

Paul Domurat

Concept Technical Sales, Inc.

6240 W. 135th St.

Overland Park, KS 66223

913-647-5366

pdomurat@concepttechsales.com

www.concepttechsales.com

WI

Mike Cekanor

Machinery Systems North

3280 Gateway Rd.

Brookfield, WI 53045

262-781-4850

mikec@machsys.com

www.machsys.com

IL, N.W. IN

Ron Mager

Machinery Systems Inc.

614 East State Parkway

Schaumburg, IL 60173

847-882-8085

ronm@machsys.com

www.machsys.com

E. MI

Peter Addy

Addy Machinery Co.

36055 Groesbeck Highway

Clinton Township, MI 48035

586-741-3000

800-ADDY-NOW

peter@addymachinery.com

www.addymachinery.com

W. MI

Peter Addy

Addy Machinery Co.

3757 Broadmoor Ave SE, Ste. A & B

Grand Rapids, MI 49512

800-AddyNOW

peter@addymachinery.com

www.addymachinery.com

S. OH

Greg Papke

Mazak Corp.

8025 Production Drive

Florence, KY 41042

859-342-1700

gpapke@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

IN, KY

Jim Shelton

Shelton Machinery, Inc.

9900 North by Northeast Blvd.

Fisher, IN 46037

317-845-5588

jshelton@sheltonmachinery.com

www.sheltonmachinery.com

N. OH

Frank Gibbons

Numerequip

4810 Briar Road

Cleveland, OH 44135

216-265-0400

fgibbons@numerequip.com

www.numerequip.com

West

CO, E. WY

Randy Breitenbach

Action Machinery International

4950 Oakland Street

Denver, CO 80239

303-532-2900

randy@action-machinery.com

www.action-machinery.com

WA, N. ID

Gary Anderegg

Machine Toolworks, Inc.

14600 Interurban Avenue South

Tukwila, WA 98168

206-575-3390

ganderegg@machinetoolworks.com

www.machinetoolworks.com

OR

Alex Madsen

Machine Toolworks, Inc.

27350 SW 95th Ave., Ste. 3032

Wilsonville, OR 97070

503-682-9030

amadsen@machinetoolworks.com

www.machinetoolworks.com

AZ

Chris Edgar

Magnum Precision Machines

3614 E. Southern Ave. #1

Phoenix, AZ 85040

602-431-8300

cedgar@magnumabq.com

www.magnumprecisionmachines.com

UT, S. ID, MT, W. WY

Clark Smith

Smith Machinery Company

41 W. Guest Avenue

Salt Lake City, UT 84115

80l-263-6403

csmith@smithmachinetools.com

www.smithmachinetools.com

S. CA

Richard McCauley

Mazak West Regional Headquarters and

Aerospace Technology Center

1333 West 190th Street

Gardena, CA 90248

310-327-7172

rmccauley@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

N. CA

David Lindenmuth

Mazak San Francisco Sales and

Technical Center

1497 N. Milpitas Blvd.

Milpitas, CA 95035

408-941-2240

dlindenmuth@mazakcorp.com

www.mazakusa.com

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