YMT Technologies - The DCV Series – Double column machining centre

The DCV Series – Double column machining centre

2011-11-17

The YCM DCV Series of large capacity double column vertical machining centres combine accuracy, rigidity and power, and is available exclusively from Yeovil-based YMT Technologies. These dynamic high performance characteristics and the range of sizes available makes the DCV Series ideally suited to the demands of the mould & die, automotive and aerospace industry sectors.

Models include the DCV 2016B, 3016B and 4016B all of which feature 1600 mm Y-axis travels and 762 mm vertical Z-axis travels. The X-axis travels are 2160, 3060 and 4065 mm respectively. The DCV 2016B is able to accept workpieces up to 8000 kg on its 2360 by 1500 mm worktable, while the DCV 3016B has a 3260 by 1500 mm worktable that can accommodate loads of up to 10,000 kg. The larger DCV 4016B can handle components or raw material weighing up to an impressive 12,000 kg on its 4260 by 1500 worktable. Rapid traverse rates for each model are 15 m/min in all axes with a cutting feedrate of 1 – 10,000 mm/min.

The extremely wide Y-axis is supported by three oversized roller type guideways to reinforce the cutting rigidity in both axial and radial directions. Two roller guides are located on the face of the bridge while the third sits on top to enhance the holding force on the headstock. As well as low friction motion the roller guideways provide improved static and dynamic load-bearing capacity, superior geometric accuracy for enhanced surface finish and better vibration damping for extended tool life.

Female hardened and ground box ways are used on the vertical Z-axis to allow the weight of the ram to be uniformly distributed through a dual gibs system. This provides better cutting rigidity and smoother ram motion during 3D contouring operations. And, the dual column design means that the elevated bearing surfaces for the Y and Z axes are located away from the machining environment, improving the protection against swarf/coolant ingress.

A two-step gear driven 4500 rpm spindle is fitted as standard. This spindle features dual oversized bearings for higher cutting rigidity and the two-step gear transmission provides 88.9 kgf-m of torque at 241 rpm, which is ideal for roughing hardened material. Also featuring a two-step gear transmission, the optional 22 kW 6000 rpm spindle can easily achieve metal removal rates of 1000 cc/min during heavy roughing operations.

Further optional high powered direct drive spindles are also available. A 40 kW 10,000 rpm Isolated Direct Drive (IDD) AC dual step spindle design offers a maximum torque of 36 kgf-m from just 500 rpm, while the 15,000 rpm high speed spindle has a HSK-A100 taper for rigid face and taper contact and the optimal balance critical in high speed machining.

Efficient machining is supported by a 40-station automatic tool changer (ATC) serviced by a swing-arm mechanism that changes tools up to 240 mm diameter by 350 mm long and weighing up to 20 kg each. An optional 60-station ATC is also available for increased flexibility and extended operation with sister tooling.

Company director, Howard Mancey, says: “Like the mould and toolmaking markets the aerospace and automotive sectors need to accurately machine complex profiles in difficult to machine materials. The DCV Series provides the solution to these demands in a range of sizes to suit the large components required. To achieve that accuracy required every DCV machine undergoes dynamic non-contact testing of contour accuracy using Heidenhain KGM grid encoders.”

Control for the DCV Series comes from the high performance Heidenhain iTNC 530. This controller features the innovative smarT.NC software which has a number of functions that improve the machine operation and safety. The major benefits come from Dynamic Collision Monitoring (DCM) which helps prevent damage to the machine and workpiece, and Adaptive Feed Control (AFC) which optimises the contouring feed rate depending on the performance of the tool spindle and other process data. A Fanuc CNC system is also available.

Howard Mancey concludes: “The DCV Series has recently been extended with the addition of machines with a 2500 mm Y-axis, so even larger components can be processed.”