Makino Offers New T2 HMC with ADVANTiGE; Establishes Global Titanium R&D Center

Makino’s Mason, OH, facility has been designated Makino's Global Titanium Research and Development Center, where a specialized group of engineers will further the development of titanium milling technologies. The facility will include state-of-the-art machine tools, specialized titanium machining and tooling experts, CMM equipment, and all the necessary tools and talent to further titanium machining technologies.

“Titanium machining is very process driven, meaning the machine tool, cutting tools, machining process, and coolants must all be developed and integrated specific to titanium’s material properties,” says Tom Clark, vice president of Makino. “Our mission at Makino’s Global Titanium R&D Center is to provide manufacturers with the best in titanium application expertise by combining Makino’s titanium machining capabilities with the world's leading process technologies. This is an ideal opportunity to work with vendors, suppliers, and partners to develop improved metal removal rates and longer tool life in titanium milling.

“The Mason, Ohio facility was chosen based on the increasing importance of titanium in the aerospace industry which is centralized here in North America. Our past experience in aluminum aerospace applications and grinding of hard metals will serve as an advantage to the continued development of titanium aerospace processing techniques."

Makino's Global Titanium R&D Center will be managed by a select group of engineers with knowledge and experience around titanium in both academic and industrial backgrounds. The group will be working with tooling and consumable vendors from around the world for a wide knowledge base in all types of titanium applications.

Titanium Machinery
Makino's Global Titanium R&D Center features a variety of machining platforms, including horizontal machining centers, vertical machining centers, 5-axis machining centers, and wire and Ram EDMs. Currently installed equipment includes a Makino a81M horizontal machining center, D500 5-axis vertical machining center, EDGE3 Ram EDM with Titanium Booster technology, and Makino's latest T2 and T4 5-axis horizontal machining centers. T-series machines are built specifically for Titanium aerospace parts and are the first to include ADVANTiGE technologies. The first machines in Makino's T-series include the T4 and T2 five-axis horizontal machining centers. The larger T4 provides X, Y, and Z axis travels of 4,200mm, 2,000mm, and 1,000mm respectively, and can hold workpieces up to 5,000kg. For smaller aerospace components, the T2 provides X, Y, and Z axis travels of 2,000mm, 2,000mm, and 1,800mm respectively, and can hold workpieces up to 5,000kg.

Purpose-built with the rigidity, dynamic stiffness, vibration damping and agility necessary for highly efficient titanium machining

Makino offers the new T2 5-axis horizontal machining center with ADVANTiGE™ technology designed for mid-sized titanium aerospace part production. Its purpose-built design provides the rigidity, dynamic stiffness, vibration damping and agility necessary for more productive titanium machining and longer tool life.

“Makino’s ongoing titanium research and development continues to offer the most effective process solutions for a wide variety of today’s aerospace structural and engine components,” says Mark Larson, Makino’s titanium process R&D manager. “Our latest solution, the T2 with ADVANTiGE technology, is like no other titanium machining center on the market today. Specifically designed from the ground up for high-efficiency titanium part production, it effectively reduces hazardous vibration and thermal conditions traditionally associated with titanium machining.”

The T2 provides X-, Y-, and Z-axis travels of 2,000mm, 2,000mm, and 1,800mm, respectively, allowing for part sizes up to 1900mm by 2000mm and 5,000kg. The T2’s construction features large way surfaces and table casting for extra rigidity and vibration damping, as well as a 120-position automatic tool changer (up to 190 available) for continuous, uninterrupted machining.

Rigid, High-Power Spindle
The T2’s HSK-A125 spindle is Makino’s most powerful spindle to date, delivering higher torque, horsepower and clamping force than all predecessors. Its compact design combines the latest induction motor with twin-inverter-drive technology for higher torque (740ft-lbs, 133HP continuous; 1,100ft-lbs, 200HP peak). The spindle is supported by roller bearings to ensure high rigidity, which keeps the energy loss to one-half that of conventional gear-driven spindles. The spindle delivers a maximum speed of 4,000 rpm. The A- and C-axes increase part accessibility with a ±110-degree A-axis rotation and a 360-degree continuous C-axis rotation.

Unattended Machining Capabilities
The T2 includes an automatic pallet changer system that features continuous operation and eliminates costly downtime for part changeovers with pallet change times of only 60 seconds.

This machine can also be integrated with an automatic pallet transfer and storage system in a highly flexible Makino Machining Complex (MMC) for extended periods of unattended operation. This automation system assigns work and initiates operations automatically, maximizing spindle utilization for increased productivity.