The new Fidia D321 compact gantry-type high-speed machining centre offers a choice of proprietary Fidia milling heads — continuous or bi-indexed — to suit specific mould-finishing applications.

Available in the UK and Ireland from Rugby-based TDT Technology Ltd (www.tdt-technology.co.uk), the Fidia D321 combines a large working envelope (3,000 x 2,200 x 1,100mm) with a compact footprint of 6,000 x 6,000mm.

Furthermore, the wide-opening front door facilitates the loading of large and heavy workpieces, while offering good visibility.

An upper gantry-type machine with a moving cross beam that is said to optimise stiffness and dynamic accuracy, it has a 3,000 x 2,000mm cast-iron T-slot table that is independent of the machine and is fastened to the floor. This can
accommodate loads up to 20 tonnes.

Fidia’s M5B/22 bi-rotary indexing head is equipped with a 22kW 30,000rev/min HSK50E spindle that is designed for the semi-finishing and finishing of plastic injection moulds.

It combines compactness with rigidity and uses a Hirth coupling with 3deg step/pitch on the B-C axis to ensure precision — even when using long tools to produce difficult-to-reach mould features.

The B-axis travel extends from +24 to -102deg; the C-axis travel is from +180 to -177deg.

Meanwhile, Fidia’s M5C/35 fork-type milling head features a 35kW 20,000rev/min HSK63A grease-lubricated spindle. This head is suitable for machining a range of materials, including steel, aluminium, foams and composites.

High-resolution direct encoders on the A and C axes ensure high levels of accuracy, even when undertaking “the most delicate and demanding operations”, says the company.

A-axis travel extends from +95 to -110deg, with ±200deg in the C axis. The Fidia NC control allows continuous five-axis interpolation and compensates the tool centre position according to spindle inclination.

Fidia’s D321 offers 24m/min axis speeds and 3m/sec2 acceleration in the linear axes, along with a 20- or 42-station automatic tool changer.

Tool lubrication/cooling is via an air-oil system that uses a minimum quantity of non-toxic vegetable oil. Air blow from the outside of the spindle can also be used.

Grease lubrication is applied automatically to the recirculating ballscrews, guides and slideways.

Among the many options available are tool life management software, probing, automatic laser-based tool pre-setting, chip conveyors and various environmental accessories — such as mist collectors and dust extraction devices.