New Swivel Head for 5-Axis HMCs

The Heckert HEC 500 D, a horizontal machining center (HMC), is available from Starrag with a new swivel head that is fit for complete 5-axis machining. According to Product Manager Dirk Muller of Heckert GmbH from Chemnitz - a company of the Swiss Starrag Group - the HEC 500 series allows machining of a large variety of materials in all sectors of the metalworking industry from light alloy and cast iron to ultra-high-strength steel.

The HEC 500 series is built for thermal stability, long-term accuracy in series production (IT 5) up to versatile mode of application. The machine can be used individually, as a manufacturing cell with pallet storage or as an integrated element of a flexible production system. "The version with the 50 kW motor spindle needs barely a second to reach its maximum rotational speed of 20,000 RPM," said Muller. "This productive efficiency, versatility and compact design benefit the user. Flexibility is guaranteed by the high-tech tool management, in which optional tandem chain magazines enable the use of up to 320 different tools. Additional safety and no need for maintenance are provided by the fixed plates, which we install instead of otherwise usual telescopic protective steel sheets or bellows."

In addition, there is a wide range of high-performance drive spindles from the spindle with 37 kW hollow-shaft motor (350 Nm torque) up to the dynamic motor spindle for high-speed cutting. The machines also offer a good and efficient chip removal for optimal conditions during dry machining.

For the HEC 500 D and 500 D XXL (clamping surface: 500 x 630 mm) there is a swivel head which extends them to 5-axis HMC. "The user can pivot the head from a horizontal into a vertical position," said Muller. "The head can be moved together with the B-axis basically in all intermediate positions and enables the user to completely machine workpieces in one clamping - for example, for the simultaneous machining of the mold surfaces where the machine combined with B- and C-axis copy-mills the free contours. As the head can be clamped in any inclined position, it is particularly suitable for drilling in the inclined surface."

For more information contact:

Starrag USA Inc.

North American Headquarters

Skyport Business Park

2379 Progress Drive

Hebron, KY 41048

859-534-5201

ussales@starrag.com

www.starrag.com