Worcester-based Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd (www.mazak.eu) gave a MACH debut to the new heavy-duty version of its highly successful UK-built VTC 800 series of vertical travelling-column machining centres. The new VTC 800/30HD (the HD stands for ‘heavy-duty’) is a 50-taper variant that provides an ideal platform when cutting hard-to-machine materials, such as Inconel, cast iron and titanium.

The VTC 800/30HD offers a high level of cutting performance, with a Mazak-designed and manufactured 22kW 10,000rev/min spindle (147Nm of torque), rapids of 50m/min in the linear axes, 0.5g acceleration, a 5.7sec chip-to-chip time, and 36 tools as standard. Richard Smith, managing director (UK & Ireland sales division) for Yamazaki Mazak, says: “The VTC 800 series has been one of our most successful machines in recent years. However, almost from launch of the original machines, our customers were asking for a heavy duty-version capable of cutting more-demanding materials. The new VTC 800/30HD has the increased power and torque demanded by 50-taper performance, allied to
a rigid structure.”

One of four multi-tasking machines on the Mazak stand, the Vortex i-630V/6 S is a five-axis high-productivity machine specifically designed for larger workpieces. It is equipped with a large machining area of 1,050mm in the Y and Z axes and 1,450mm in the X axis; the maximum table load capacity is 1,750kg. This capacity is matched by a 10,000rev/min spindle and rapid-traverse rates of 52m/min. Like all Mazak multi-tasking machines, the Vortex is equipped with a range of intelligent machining functions including Active Vibration Control, Intelligent Thermal Shield and Intelligent Balance Analyser, which monitors the balance of the table load and eliminates any unbalanced condition that could affect machining accuracy.

Yamazaki Mazak also gave a MACH debut to its latest horizontal machining centre, the Horizontal Center Nexus. This accommodates workpieces up to 630mm in diameter and 900mm high; the work envelope is 630 x 640 x 640mm. Despite its large machining envelope, the machine features a compact design and uses three-point levelling for fast and efficient installation. Spindle options range from 12,000 to 30,000rev/min, while the main structure provides high rigidity and allows 1g acceleration to a rapid-traverse rate of 60m/min. The machine also features the range of intelligent machining functions found on Mazak multi-tasking machines.