FANUC control adds international appeal to double-spindle machine
Success in the volume business with China has prompted MAG and FANUC to now set their sights on the European market. After all, the Asian business comprises slightly more than 50% of total sales for MAG. And the customers based in Asia have specified FANUC as the preferred control supplier in their plants. Dr. Manfred Berger, Executive Vice President Global Sales at MAG IAS, Eislingen: "In some production years, even half of all CNC machines produced at MAG were equipped with FANUC.
As a general rule – and both sides are in agreement – OEMs and their suppliers are striving for more or less unified standards. Bernhard Lusch, Head of Sales CNC Controls at FANUC Germany: "We must offer the option of being able to produce with the same equipment in all locations." In any case, MAG is pleased about having a worldwide available source of renowned high-performance controls. Compared to the direct competition among control manufacturers, MAG sees significant advantages in the economic efficiency of FANUC components that can be passed on to the final customer. The Asian market with China and India will continue to grow; today, China already has the largest installed production capacity in machine tools compared to the rest of the world, and a similar trajectory is forecast for India in the decade to come. Dr. Berger: "Based on this aspect, the cooperation with FANUC assumes even greater importance for MAG."
The company wants to harness its good reputation in the system machine business for the deployment of those machines in the components market. Only a few modifications and supplements are required to do so. For instance, the new SPECHT double-spindle machine is equipped with a pallet changer that does not exist in that form among high-volume automotive applications. In the past, the company did not want to create competition for its group affiliate with its own series of machine tools – the market trend has now made that a moot point. And: "We are strong in 5-axis machines", according to the bold motto. Initial customers are on the way – from the automotive supplier industry.
Chip-to-chip machining times of under 2.5 seconds
Like its predecessors, the new double spindle machine from MAG is fast and productive. The outstanding basic parameters: a chip-to-chip time of under 2.5 seconds and a tool change time of less than one second are top results compared to comparable machines. FANUC servo drives, in combination with the CNC and MAG's proprietary software, are responsible for ensuring fast chip-to-chip times.
In order for the machine to be not only fast but also precise, it provides compensation in all linear axes. For the X-, Y- and Z- axis, a Heidenhain measuring system determines the spindle compared to the slides. Two fast FANUC servo motors per axis stabilise any possible position variances. This ensures an optimal spindle position at all times.
On the new SPECHT 500 DUO+, MAG also naturally relies on a combination of chain magazine and disc magazine. With this patented tool magazine, tool changes can be implemented in less than one second – a record time. The corresponding proprietary software utilizes the CNC control and reduces the wait times to a minimum. The loading of the magazine containing 112 tools is completed at a height convenient to the user and parallel to the machining process.
Uses less energy than comparible machines
Although the SPECHT 500 DUO+ is specifically designed for the component market: The demand for energy efficient operations comes from the automotive field. Bernhard Lusch: "This machine will offer more favourable energy consumption compared to comparable machines." However: Consumption values have to also be documented. That is why the option package for the MAG machine with a FANUC control will also include an energy monitor, i.e. an interface that indicates the energy consumption of the machine.
And already prior to the premiere of the SPECHT 500 DUO+, the development timetable for the near future is being discussed. It is foreseeable that honing processes will also be run on machining centres. The FANUC control is definitely well equipped for this.