Engineers to discuss latest research and process solutions for aerospace parts

Mason, Ohio Makino plans to share its latest machining and process solutions for aerospace manufacturing July 14-20 at the 2014 Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, England. Makino is slated to host discussions at its business chalet, C5, regarding new aerospace manufacturing technologies specifically designed for small, mid-size and large complex aerospace components, EDM hole drilling, and 5-axis milling and grinding.

"The global aerospace market is growing rapidly, and this show is a great place for manufacturers to learn how to meet increasingly stringent requirements for quality and delivery," said Mark Rentschler, Makino marketing manager. "Visitors to Makino's chalet will meet with our senior executives, key designers and applications engineers to discuss their unique challenges and discover new technology solutions for titanium, aluminum and nickel alloys. Milling, grinding and new EDM hole making processes will all be showcased this year for both structural and engine components."

Makino is on tap to showcase its aerospace manufacturing solutions in booth A12 of Hall 3 at the show.

Right-Sized Machining Solution One of the technologies Makino plans to include is the a61nx-5E 5-axis horizontal machining center. It is built specifically for high-efficiency aluminum machining of small to mid-size, complex and monolithic aerospace parts. This machine brings the metal removal and productivity of Makino's MAG machines to a smaller platform, enabling aerospace manufactures to "right size" their parts production.

The a61nx-5E boosts productivity through the addition of twin direct-drive rotary axes for "one and done" efficiency. The a61nx-5E features an innovative automatic pallet-changer design that directly loads the pallet into the 5th-axis rotary table while providing a flat surface for ergonomic workpiece loading. Spindle options for the a61nx-5E range from the standard 14,000-rpm high-power spindle, to a remarkable 24,000-rpm, 80-kW (duty rated) spindle for aluminum machining in aerospace. This under-race-lubricated, core-cooled spindle is capable of metal-removal rates of up to 300 cubic inches per minute in the machining of aluminum.

Productivity for Large-Part Machining Makino's a81nx horizontal machining center focuses on large-part, large-feature challenges common in many industries. This machine extends the capabilities of its 1-series predecessor with expanded machining capacity, improved rigidity and stability, improved productivity and enhanced reliability. Enhancements have been made to the bed and column castings of the machine, and tool length, diameter and weight capacities of the a81nx have all been increased to support titanium milling applications. There have been spindle design improvements for faster acceleration and deceleration times, and a host of additional features and advancements to improve ergonomics, maintenance and machine uptime.

Purpose-Built for Large-Part Machining T1 5-axis horizontal machining center is purpose-built for parts of any shape and any material and shares much of the ADVANTiGE technologies that were introduced with the larger purpose-built T2 and T4 machines. Built for high-efficiency machining across a wide range of large-part applications, the T1 machine's rigid design, versatile cutting capabilities and sizable work envelope make it an ideal fit for aerospace job-shop environments, where machining of both aluminum and titanium is required.

The T1's unique kinematic structure includes a 155-degree tilting A-axis and deep chest column, providing full five-sided machining capability for parts up to 1,500 mm in diameter. The key to the T1's flexibility is its 12,000-rpm spindle. The T1 tackles titanium with 1,000 Nm of duty-rated torque from spindle start to 1,000 rpm. Aluminum structural components are at home on the T1 with continuous power output of 76 hp out through 12,000. While titanium and aluminum highlight the extreme boundaries of the T1 spindle capability, mid-range power and torque levels are well suited for materials ranging from stainless steel to Inconel.

Blades and Vanes Makino's EDBV (electrical discharge blades and vanes) Series EDM hole-drilling machines have been specifically designed for the production of film cooling holes and diffuser shapes in aerospace blades and vane segments. The EDBV3 EDM hole-drilling machine provides aerospace manufacturers with the speed, flexibility and reliability to effectively produce a wide range of hole shapes and sizes within a single setup, significantly reducing required tool variety and overall cycle times. The newly developed water-based EDBV8 has been designed to deliver top performance and optimal speed while it too prevents internal workpiece-feature back-striking, and it provides larger machine travels and greater workpiece payloads to accommodate the needs of larger aerospace part details.

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Makino to Highlight New Aerospace Manufacturing Solutions at 2014 Farnborough International ...