Cincinnati Machine UK Ltd. will launch the Blue Technologies range of machine tools at MACH 2006. These offer comprehensive machining capabilities for the aerospace, automotive, medical, mould and die, and general machining industries. Five high-technology vertical and horizontal machining and turning centres will be on display. Blue Technologies is a division within MAG Industrial Automation Systems, a group of which Cincinnati also is a part.

The FTV5 5-axis fixed-table vertical machining centre (VMC) for aerospace, precision machining, and die and mould applications has a 5-axis spindle head for full five-sided machining, and its maximum 3.7-m machining range in the x-axis allows long-part or multiple-setup machining. The fixed table and extensive working envelope accommodate loads to 10,000 kg. The demonstration FTV5 at MACH will be equipped with the Heidenhain iTNC 530 CNC control, as will the CFV5 5-axis VMC, whose integrated rotary table technology facilitates machining of workpieces up to 400 mm in diameter and 300 mm high and offers 150° tilt capability. The high-rigidity cast structure and linear guideways of the CFV5 minimize chatter and vibration for high accuracy and a flawless part finish.

The latest Cincinnati vertical centre is the VMC-4020, whose high-rigidity box ways make it a workhorse for high-productivity machining. The entire VMC line is supplied as standard with a highly specified GE Fanuc 18i MB CNC control and a choice of x-axis ranges and spindle powers.

Also debuting at MACH are the Bluestar 5 horizontal machining centre and high-productivity Blueturn 250 vertical turning centre. The Bluestar range is built to provide high machining accuracy and repeatability in a space-saving compact footprint and at low capital outlay. Its large working envelope, pallet changer, and choice of pallet size ensure maximum application flexibility.

The two models of Blueturn turning centre feature high-level standard specifications and an ergonomic setup. Shorter tool-change times, a fast spindle, and a capacity for workpieces up to 30 kg and as large as 450 mm in diameter help turn parts quickly, while the addition of an automatic conveyor system extends productivity by making unmanned operation possible.

The CFV5 5-axis vertical machining centre (VMC) available from Cincinnati Machine UK Ltd. incorporates a dedicated rotary-table system that brings full 5-axis, five-side, large-capacity machining capability to Cincinnati Lamb’s CFV range of proven VMCs. The integrated rotary table, which has 150° tilt capability, allows workpieces up to 400 mm in diameter and 300 mm high to be machined comfortably. Superior part accuracy is ensured by the machine’s high-rigidity cast-frame structure, which also minimizes chatter and vibration for a potentially flawless surface finish.

As is the case with Cincinnati Machine’s CFV range of 3-axis VMCs, performance packages are available to tailor the machine to the application. The CFV5-i package is the standard offering for 5-axis precision machining, with high-speed and high-torque spindles available as an option.

The CFV5-Si high-speed version, with an optional 20,000-rpm integral HSK-63A spindle, is well suited for the production of moulds and dies and aerospace structures that require both simultaneous 5-axis machining and 5-axis positioning. Its 20,000-rpm spindle ensures a smooth, accurate surface finish. This VMC has the flexibility to machine both large aluminium parts and intricate pieces.

Among the controls available for the CFV5 is the GE Fanuc 18i-MB5, which, as shown on exhibition, offers positioning and simultaneous 5-axis machining capabilities.

All VMC models in Cincinnati’s CFV range boast 540-mm y-axis travel, a 585-mm throat distance, and a vertical front guard face to maximize the working envelope.

The newly launched FTV5 range of fixed-table vertical machining centres with travelling column debuts with the FTV5-1800, which incorporates a 5-axis spindle head for full, efficient five-sided machining. Cincinnati Machine UK Ltd. can supply the new machine in 1,800-, 2,500-, and 3,700-mm x-axis configurations for aerospace, precision machining, and die and mould applications. The fixed table and voluminous work envelope can accommodate loads up to 10,000 kg.

The FTV5-1800’s spindle uses the HSK-63A standard tool interface. The spindle drive provides speeds to 18,000 rpm and delivers 27-kW S6-duty-rated power from 2,000 rpm. The 5-axis spindle is capable of ±95° tilt in the a-axis and a full 360° contouring in the c-axis. A cast-iron carrier surrounding the high-precision 5-axis head provides very good rigidity and cutting stability. Direct-drive low-maintenance brushless torque motors deliver maximum swivel torque of 1,300 Nm and swivel speed of 360°/sec.

The 1,005-mm y-axis range and table width enables wider parts or multiple setups to be machined, adding to the machine’s versatility. Base-mounted tool changers providing storage of up to 42 tools are housed in a highly visible, easily accessible loading station that keeps tools free from swarf and coolant. They offer the ability to store a sufficient number of tools for complex jobs, multiple sets for a variety of work, or redundant tooling for heavily used tools.

FTV5 machines are supplied with a choice of Heidenhain or Siemens controls. These, mounted into an ergonomically designed mobile unit, can be positioned conveniently anywhere in front of the machine. Also provided as standard are Heidenhain glass linear scales in the x-, y-, and z-axes to ensure constant accuracy. Enhanced guarding for operator safety accords with European standards.

The FTV5 fixed-table vertical machining centre (VMC) with 5-axis spindle, built by Cincinnati Lamb and available from Cincinnati Machine UK Ltd., is a recently launched range that offers one-hit machining and minimal need for operator intervention. The range comprises the models 1800, 2500, and 3700 and is well suited for mould and die, aerospace, and precision machining applications.

This VMC's fixed table enables large and heavy workpieces weighing up to 10,000 kg to be machined comfortably. The spindle utilizes the HSK-A63-standard tool interface, and its drive provides a maximum speed of 18,000 rpm, delivering 27 kW of S6-duty-rated power from 2,000 rpm. The 5-axis spindle is capable of ±95° tilt in the a-axis and full 360° contouring in the c-axis. Five-axis simultaneous interpolation enables setups to be minimized through one-hit machining, thereby maximizing parts production and spindle usage.

The operations management and acquisitions organization Maxcor Inc., in partnership with Silver Point Finance LLC, announced in March that it had agreed to purchase the global operations of Unova's Cincinnati Lamb Group. At the time of writing, the transaction was expected to close within 30 days of the announcement. Cincinnati Lamb, a company formed by the union of Cincinnati Machine and Lamb Technicon in 2002, will operate under Maxcor's MAG Industrial Automation Systems business segment.

Under terms of the agreement, the Cincinnati Lamb Group will be purchased for approximately $60 million, subject to closing balance sheet adjustments. The transaction consists of cash, notes, and assumption of certain long-term liabilities.

"Cincinnati Lamb has a long tradition of assisting customers in key manufacturing sectors to achieve higher productivity while driving production costs down," said Mo Meidar, chairman and CEO of Maxcor. "Maxcor is dedicated to building on that tradition by utilizing our expertise to foster greater product innovation and development, as well as to continue the successful track record of unmatched customer service and product life-cycle support."

The new Cincinnati Lamb FTV-840/3700 travelling-column machining centre with a Heidenhain iTNC 530 control system is now available from Cincinnati Machine to fulfill industrial companies' large-capacity toolmaking requirements. The 20-tonne, 18-kW machine has a 3.7-m bed. It is designed to offer outstanding robustness and be highly capable of withstanding vibration. The bed's cast-iron construction ensures that there is absolutely no chatter.

Productivity was as much a factor as stability in the design of the FTV-840. The machine has a partition that can be efficiently set up to enable dual loading. This system provides in-cycle loading with two 1.5-m-long beds for machining large components. Time-consuming setups thus can be performed while the machine is running, minimizing cycle time.

A UK manufacturer of machined parts for a wide range of industrial applications has been a satisfied customer, using a 12,500-rpm FTV-840 to machine difficult die components for a plastics-processing machine. The tool-steel billets machined are a metre long and weigh 450 kg. The components undergo 25 operations requiring 16 hours of machining, with most dimensions holding a ±0.05-mm tolerance.

Because of the rigidity and stability of this FTV, the user can take 1.5- to 2-mm cuts with cutters running at surface speeds above 150 m/min. The finished part weighs 350 kg. A swarf conveyor handles the high metal removal without trouble.

UK-made Cincinnati Lamb machines are supported by strong customer service and backup. Full training and technical support are available as part of a purchase package, and assistance with tooling selection and setup can be provided.

The FTV5 range of 5-axis fixed-table vertical machining centres (VMCs), designed and manufactured in Birmingham, includes models with x-axis travels up to 3,700 mm, and features heavy-duty construction, a class-leading 1,005-mm y-axis for wide parts, and full 5-axis capability. Cincinnati Machine UK Ltd. offers the new Cincinnati Lamb FTV5 1800, 2500, and 3700 VMCs for mould and die and precision machining applications.

The 5-axis spindle provides up to ±95° tilt in the a-axis and full 360° contouring in the c-axis. It uses the HSK-63A tool interface. Producing speeds to 18,000 rpm, the drive delivers 27-kW S6-duty-rated power from 2,000 rpm. A sturdy cast-iron carrier surrounds the high-precision 5-axis head to provide excellent rigidity and cutting stability. Low-maintenance brushless-torque drive motors make possible high swivel torque of 1,300 Nm and swivel speeds to 360°/sec. Simultaneous 5-axis interpolation minimizes setup requirements.

The y-axis range and table width enables wide parts or multiple setups to be machined, adding to the FTV5's versatility. High-visibility, easily accessed base-mounted tool changers provide storage for up to 42 tools that are kept free of swarf and coolant.

The FTV5 VMCs come standard with the Siemens Sinumerik 840D controller mounted into an ergonomically designed mobile unit. The highly specified control incorporates a 15-in. TFT colour screen, a Pentium III 1.2-GHz processor, 256 Mb of RAM, and 1-Gb part programme storage. Unique Cincinnati Lamb wizard screens facilitate setup. Also standard are Heidenhain glass linear scales in the x-, y-, and z-axes. Enhanced guarding ensures operator safety according to European standards.

Machine tool specialist Cincinnati Lamb has announced the appointment of Greig Underwood as its regional sales manager in the United Kingdom. Underwood, who has extensive experience in both sales and technical support roles, has rejoined the company after three years away.

Underwood will be coordinating support for both current and future customers in the UK's East Midlands and Southeast England regions for Cincinnati Lamb's Birmingham operations. He will represent the ranges of vertical machining centres and turning centres that are designed and built in the UK. He spent five years representing Cincinnati products as an applications engineer before joining Cincinnati in 1998. More recently, he was a sales manager for machine tools in the mould and die industry.

Cincinnati Machine has announced the introduction of customized Siemens Sinumerik 810D Powerline CNC controls on the four models in its range of Arrow Series2 vertical machining centers (VMCs). Developed jointly by Cincinnati and Siemens, the control is reliable, very user-friendly, and highly specified. The development goal was to reduce the complexity of CNC programming for those with little or no knowledge of DIN/ISO language.

Single-key press functions within the Machine Tool Builders panel take the operator to the relevant wizard screen, where conversational dialogue directs action. Results can be input directly into the program and viewed graphically on-screen.

Wizard screens include Set Tool Length, Set Tram Surface, Auto Machine On, and Alarm Help. All are designed to minimize setup time and maximize spindle uptime. Dynamic help displays available during input eliminate the need for documentation at the machine.

The shop-floor programming package ShopMill from Siemens is included as a standard feature on the 810D. This dialogue-based system can save time and money on training, programming, and production time.

DIN/ISO programming is available for experienced operators who are conversant in CNC programming. For mould and die industry users, the Siemens Sinumerik 810D Powerline offers features to shorten machining times, increase path accuracy, increase machining speeds, and improve surface finish. Other standard Cincinnati features on the control include Ethernet communications, 64-MB part program storage, a floppy-drive interface, a USB interface, measuring cycles, tool management, additional M codes, and temperature compensation.

Arrow Series2 VMCs are also available with GE Fanuc 18i-MB and Heidenhain iTNC 530 CNC controls.

Stephen Brown (photo), who was business development director for the Birmingham-based firm Cincinnati Machine UK Ltd., has been appointed as the company's new general manager. He will take over leadership of the vertical machining centre and CNC lathe manufacturing firm at year's end. Brown succeeds retiring managing director John Bloxham, with whom he will share duties through the remainder of 2003.

Brown joined Cincinnati Machine in 1986 as manufacturing director and led the team that introduced the company's groundbreaking Sabre range. He has extensive senior management experience with both Cincinnati and other export manufacturers and possesses considerable international business and manufacturing expertise. His educational background includes a degree in metallurgical engineering.

John Bloxham retires after 40 years with the company. He became manufacturing director of the Birmingham operation in 1983 and was appointed managing director in 1988.

Cincinnati Machine UK is a subsidiary of UNOVA Industrial Automation Systems, combining the manufacturing and business systems infrastructure of two machine tool manufacturers, Cincinnati Machine and Lamb Technicon.

Arrow Series 2 vertical machining centres have been fitted with an array of productivity options by manufacturer Cincinnati Machine, which allow operators to process parts even more rapidly.

For example, an integral 20,000-rpm, 20-kW high-speed spindle is available on Arrows equipped with the Siemens Acramatic control. The motor-driven spindle with HSK 63 tooling provides excellent balance and vibration-free performance in any mould and die application requiring high speed, light-skim metal removal, and maximum spindle utilization for fast part processing. Its generous torque capacity ensures high performance in semifinishing hardened steels and machining aerospace materials that involve high metal-removal rates.

Arrows can be supplied with a customized GE Fanuc 18i-M CNC control that features a user-friendly interface design. This control employs the latest Pentium technology to support future upgrades. A context-sensitive help function lets operators access individual help screens on a colour display, and one-touch hot keys make function activation simple. AiAPC (Artificial Intelligence Advanced Preview Control) mould and die technology enables machining precision to be selected from roughing, medium, and fine options. Another standard feature is a shop floor programming package that uses graphical simulation.

In addition, an integral swarf flushing system and a high-efficiency auger are available new extras on all Arrow Series 2 models.

The x-y-z travel of Arrow Series 2 centres provides a work envelope as large as 3,048 x 762 x 770 mm for workpieces weighing up to 3,000 kg. Linear-scale feedback standard on the x- and y-axes maintains positioning accuracy and repeatability of ±3 µm and ±1 µm, respectively, across the entire travel range.

The V-CNC range of machining centres offers first-time users, small subcontract machine shops, and educational institutions the opportunity to work with cost-efficient high-technology machine tools that feature a highly user-friendly interface. Available from Cincinnati Machine, the new, easy-to-operate tools deliver the productivity advantages of full CNC capability for low capital outlay.

A customized CNC control system designed specifically to be easy to learn and use incorporates the latest Pentium technology, thus offering expandability to support future upgrades. Timesaving control screens and functions activated by a single key press make possible fast tool and setup times. In addition, a context-sensitive help function enables operators to access individual help screens.

The V-CNC range is equipped with such standard features as automatic swarf extraction, preprogrammable acceleration and deceleration, and cylindrical interpolation. Models 500 and 750 provide 510 and 762 mm of x-axis travel, respectively. Rapid traverse rates to 20 m/min, feed rates to 15 m/min, and acceleration/deceleration rates to 3 m/sec² maximize the capabilities of the centre's 13-kW, 8,000-rpm spindle.

AIAPC mold and die technology allows the user to select from three different levels of machining precision—roughing, medium, and fine—for optimal speed and accuracy. An operator-friendly SFP package employs graphical simulation for programming operations.

Machine performance can be enhanced through a package of added-value options that includes an integral wash system, an autocoolant, a 4th-axis interface, engraving cycles, switchable parameters, and a 16-MB part-program memory card.

The V5-2000 VMC by Cincinnati Machine combines speed, precision and agility to slice processing time and set-ups on contoured aluminium parts. Described as cost-effective, the V5-2000, with five-axis processing capabilities, includes a twin-tilt spindle featuring a class-leading +/-80° sweep in the "A" and "B" axes. The advanced axis construction of this ballscrew-driven, two-axis head provides a high degree of dynamic stiffness, as well as superior rotary speed and torque, with a wide range of motion for machining complex aluminium parts.

A standard HSK63A taper high-performance spindle delivers 15,000 rpm at a duty-rated 26kW level, while the optional 10,000 rpm CAT 40 spindle enables aggressive metal removal. The V5-2000 combines a powerful and versatile PC-based Acramatic 2100 CNC with five-axis profiling routines.

Control options such as the five-axis Tool Length Compression and the five-axis Cutter Diameter Compensation allow automatic processing with tools that vary in both length and diameter. This eliminates programme modifications as well as a need to buy expensive preset tools.

The Arrow 1250C, the latest addition to Cincinnati Machine's Arrow VMC line, features Heidenhain digital linear scales fitted on both X- and Y-axes, allowing for minimal warm-up time, positioning accuracy within ±3 µm, and repeatability to 1 µm over the machine's full travel range (X-axis 1250 mm; Y-axis 510 mm; Z-axis 560 mm). The highly compact Arrow 1250C provides a high degree of rigidity, and its 24-metre-per-minute traverse rates allow for continuous productivity. Direct tool change from a 21-capacity drum reduces metal-to-metal time to 7 sec.

The Arrow 1250C also offers a range of spindle-performance options; in its standard form, it is fitted with a 6000-rpm, 7.5-kW power capability, but a 10,000-rpm, 13-kW or higher torque-spindle option can also be obtained. CNC systems available include the dual-processor Acramatic A2100E with Microsoft Windows NT touch-screen control; the GE Fanuc 181; and the Heidenhain TNC 410A and 426B controls.