Hard-miling heavyweight

An upgrade to Makino’s (Auburn Hills, MI) V56 vertical machining center, designed specifically for large-part, high-speed hard milling, provides users with tighter accuracies, sustained dynamic performance, superior surface finishes, and long hours of continuous, unattended operation.

"Shops can’t afford to let an operator babysit a machine because their machine loses accuracy," says Bill Howard, Makino product manager. "Our new line of vertical machining centers, including the V33iand V56i, gives shops the confidence to run complex, long-running jobs in hardened materials accurately, reducing scrap, reducing overhead, and making every job more profitable."

The V56i’s refined spindle provides increased stiffness and rigidity to reduce potential chatter during machining of 50+ Rockwell C materials. An enhanced machine design reduces potential machine movement and the associated thermal growth, common problems that could induce inaccuracy during long die and mold applications. These additional features are instrumental in holding superior accuracy during long periods of unattended operation.

The V56i’s worktable is 1050 by 550 mm with associated travels of 900 mm (X) by 550 mm (Y) by 450 mm (Z). The machine work zone will accommodate a maximum workpiece size of 1050 mm by 720 mm by 450 mm. —[email protected]