Southern Manufacturing & Electronics ‘Plug-and-play’ 5-axis automation system takes centre stage at Southern Manufacturing

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Machine engineering company Yamazaki Mazak will be returning to Southern Manufacturing & Electronics in 2023 (7-9 February) with a stand centred on accessible 5-axis automation for subcontractors.

Taking pride of place on the Mazak stand will be its UK-made CV5-500 machining centre, supported with a ‘plug-and-play’, low-footprint MA-20/400 part-loading automation system.

The highly versatile 5-axis machine, with a 500 mm diameter table, is unique in its category due to its high-rigidity bridge construction with a fully supported trunnion table that travels in the Y-axis direction under the bridge, ultimately delivering a highly accurate and extremely compact machining solution.

With rapid traverse rates of 36 m/min in the X-, Y- and Z-axes, the machine delivers agile performance that is boosted by an optional 18,000 rpm 18.5 kW high-speed spindle, which includes core cooling through the X-, Y- and Z-axes ballscrews, all backed up by Mazak’s comprehensive Thermal Shield to ensure stable machining accuracy.

The CV5-500 has been designed for easy integration with automation, with access for robot loading at the side of the machine. The model on display at Southern Manufacturing will feature a MA-20/400 fully integrated part-loading solution. Raw material and finished components are exchanged to and from the machine by a 20 kg payload robot with a double gripper hand for simultaneous load and unload to minimise the non-cutting time.

The major benefit of the MA robot solution is the ability to increase production on demand through lights-out operation, without the burden of adding additional labour. Moreover, the cell also offers the potential to extend the productive hours of the machine with unmanned and lights-out running either overnight or at weekends.

Crucially, no specialist knowledge for either programming or setup is required for the MA, which results in a short learning curve for operators. With the GUI embedded seamlessly into the Smooth-X CNC, operating the robot is intuitive with as little as five minutes required to set-up and change over workpieces.

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