Further development of a ‘firm favourite’ at XYZ

Devon-based XYZ Machine Tools has established a reputation for helping its customers to grow and develop their businesses, with a wide variety of machines that range from manual types through ProtoTrak-controlled mills and lathes to turning centres and machining centres — including five-axis models.

Always popular has been the company’s range of bed mills, with some 20 a month regularly sold. The latest models — RMX 2500, RMX 3500, RMX 4000 and RMX 5000 — feature the latest-generation ProtoTrak RMX touchscreen three-axis control system, which has been designed to provide maximum operator productivity, particularly on one-off components or small batches. Moreover, XYZ says an operator with no previous CNC experience can be producing simple or complex parts within hours.

The latest addition to the company’s machine range is the XYZ TMC (toolroom machining centre), which — among other features — brings the added versatility of a tool-change system, while maintaining the familiarity of the latest ProtoTrak RMX control system.

Nigel Atherton, XYZ’s managing director, said: “The use of the RMX control system with its touchscreen interface will provide a high level of familiarity for existing users of XYZ bed mills, with the many easy-to-use programming tools making the control ideal for low- to medium-volume production.

“Combining these capabilities with a fully enclosed machining envelope and automatic tool changer make the XYZ TMC the perfect machine for businesses to step up their productivity in their low- to medium-volume activities. Moreover, programs from bed mills with earlier ProtoTrak control systems can run on TMC machines.”

Proven pedigree
The XYZ TMC range comprises four machines, all of which are based on the company’s existing and proven three-axis linear rail vertical machining centre carcass (LR range). TMC machines are available as 500, 750, 1000 and 1600 variants, with the number denoting the machine’s X-axis travel.

Equipped with fully enclosed guarding, 20-station toolchanger (12 stations on the XYZ 500 TMC), all TMC models have a 15hp (11kW) spindle power with a maximum speed of 8,000rev/min (12,000rev/min is available as an option) and are designed to take ‘toolroom machining to the next level with volume batch work well within its capabilities’.

XYZ says the use of the ProtoTrak control brings many advantages, which will be appreciated by existing ProtoTrak users. “For example, the TraKing feature uses handwheel movement to prove the program. The faster you wind the faster it machines. Stop or reverse the handwheel and the machine does the same; and for those familiar with XYZ Machine Tools’ ProtoTrak bed mills the TMC-series machines are fitted as standard with a remote handwheel to move all axes.

“Moreover, electronic handwheels that can slide to the front of the vision panel are an option that allows users to operate the machine as if it were a bed mill, using the DRO facility for manual machining, while having the security of the fully enclosed guarding to keep swarf and coolant within the machining environment.”

The ProtoTrak RMX control also simplifies programming to maximise efficiency, with users having the option of program development at the machine using its conversational programming software or using offline programming and making use of ProtoTrak’s G-code compatibility for more complex 3-D components.

While retaining many features that made ProtoTrak the success it is, the latest RX (RMX for milling, RLX for turning) version adds even more features, including ‘Enhanced ProtoTrak Assistance’ (EPA), which gives instant access to in-depth help at any point in the programming/operating procedure.

This feature is designed to address the changes in skill sets that businesses are facing, where operators possessing traditional mechanical skills but limited technology knowledge are being replaced by next-generation operators that have less engineering/metal-cutting experience but a greater knowledge of computer technology.

‘CAD capability’
Meanwhile, ‘Auto Geometry Engine’ (AGE) is a feature of the ProtoTrak RMX control that is effectively a CAD capability within the control that allows users to overcome issues when data is lacking from drawings by automatically calculating missing dimensions during programming. Moreover, touchscreen capability takes AGE to a new level with a new ‘Tap to Guess’ feature; with the part shown on-screen, simply tapping the screen where the intersection or tangent point is unknown, the AGE software calculates the dimension data. AGE can be used for both profiles and pockets and can machine pockets with an ‘unlimited number of islands located inside their boundaries’.

Furthermore, ‘Adaptive Toolpath’ can drastically reduce cycle times on complex milling cycles and is a feature more commonly found on high-end CAD/CAM systems, while the ‘Look’ feature now runs alongside the program inputs for program verification along with live updating of program events; it will also show a conventional toolpath and give the user estimated cycle times to ensure the most efficient method has been selected. For the ‘ultimate program check’ a solid 3-D rendered image can be shown using the ‘Verify’ feature.

The control also comes with the option of adding a ‘DXF Converter’ that benefits from the system’s touchscreen technology to deliver substantial advantages; importing a DXF file is completely streamlined, eliminating the need for supplementary software and the requirement for a mouse to be connected.

A further development is the ability to mix DXF and manual programming when generating programs, thereby giving the user optimum flexibility via the touchscreen. The ProtoTrak RMX control can also handle Parasolid 3-D model files, making the machining of more complex three-dimensional parts straightforward, particularly when using the touchscreen to manipulate parts during programming.

In conclusion, Mr Atherton added: “With over 15,000 ProtoTrak-controlled mills and lathes installed in the UK, extending the use of this versatile, flexible and productivity-enhancing control will be a relatively straightforward step for many toolroom-type low-volume production environments.

“Throughout the past two years we have continued to innovate, and these new machine and control developments will bring ProtoTrak and XYZ Machine Tools to a wider audience. Moreover, we hold £18 million of machine stock and have some 100 TMC machines on order, so customers can usually have the machine they want from stock.”