Hurco Europe Ltd (www.hurco.co.uk) will be highlighting the simplicity of operation of its proprietary Max 5 control for all types of machining operations on stand P98 at Southern Manufacturing 2017; and while the CNC system that runs the latest WinMax software is intended for graphical menu-based conversational programming, it is equally capable of handling NC code.

Moreover, a customer can take delivery of a single-screen control, which comes as standard with entry-level VM-series machining centres, and upgrade it later to a twin-screen version with a hinged auxiliary screen.

This allows the operator to view images of a part as it is being created or monitor a machining process while the next job is being programmed.

Further benefits derive from the control now being an integral part of the machine, coupled with the ability to retract the QWERTY keyboard, drop the keypad from horizontal to vertical, close the auxiliary screen (if fitted) and swing the whole control assembly flush to the front of the machine.

On the machine front, Hurco will be demonstrating a VM10Ui five-axis machining centre, which has a work envelope of 533 x 406 x 483mm.

The company will be showing how quickly and easily five-sided components can be programmed directly at the Max 5 control, using the standard conversational software.

The control’s Transform Plane facility allows all five sides to be input as simple 2-D profiles, which are then rotated to the relevant face.

The flexibility of the Max 5 control will be further underlined by showing simultaneous five-axis programs being loaded from a selection of different CAM systems.

Also on display will be a TM6i two-axis CNC lathe. This can turn parts up to 316mm in diameter ¥ 340mm long and accommodates bar work up to 45mm in diameter.

This slant-bed machine, which also features the Max 5 control, is supplied as standard with a 6in hydraulic three-jaw chuck, parts catcher, swarf conveyor and vouchers for MacInnes coolant and lubricants — plus Kyocera tooling worth £1,000.