Low-cost bed mill with Heidenhain control

Bridging the gap between a vertical machining centre and a tool-room milling machine, the Ajax AJCBM 750 CNC bed mill offers a high level of flexibility, thanks to its universal inclined head and Heidenhain control.

Developed by Lymington-based Ajax Machine Tools International Ltd (www.ajax-mach.co.uk) as a full three-axis Heidenhain TNC 320-controlled machine, in preference to more commonly available 2.5-D systems, this CNC bed mill offers the advantage of common programming techniques with other Heidenhain systems.

The Ajax AJCBM 750 machine is the smallest of the AJCBM bed milling range, with table sizes that range from 1,270 x 280mm (500kg load) to 1,900 x 700mm.

The range is largely based on the company’s proven Semco 800 with Anilam control. The machine weighs 2.5 tonnes and features substantially ribbed iron castings, as well as solid hardened and ground ways with Turcite B coating.The ISO 40-taper turret-style head incorporates a 5.5kW inverter drive with a 50-3,800rev/min spindle; it can be inclined either to the left or right.

Moreover, the machine’s rigidity allows it to mill flats off-centre and on an angle; it is also possible to interrupt the CNC cycle and hand-feed to create ultra-fine holes. The axis travels are 750mm (longitudinal), 420mm (cross) and 500mm (vertical); the quill provides an independent traverse of 127mm.