Small Part Aerospace Manufacturing
Ideal for aluminum machining, the a51nx 400 mm high-speed horizontal machining center from Makino maximizes the average metal removal rate in both roughing and finishing applications.
Posted: July 30, 2014
Aluminum machining witnessed in this video demonstrates the small part aerospace manufacturing capabilities of the a51nx 400 mm high-speed horizontal machining center from Makino Inc. (Mason, OH).
The arrowhead part starts as an A5052 aluminum billet measuring 7.9 in X 5.1 in X 5.3 in. The block is prepped with a dovetail and machined complete in a single workholding using a Techni-grip fixture. The a51nx is configured with a 14,000 rpm 40 hp/302 Nm integral drive spindle, HSK63 spindle interface and standard direct-drive B-axis. For ideal visibility of the cutting, the machine is also configured with a MQL (minimum quantity lubrication) system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DehW94gLRKM
The Makino aluminum machining strategy is to maximize the average metal removal rate (MRR). This puts the high-performance aluminum machining focus on both roughing and finishing applications. In the case of the arrowhead part, total cycle time is 10.4 minutes. Average MRR for this part is an impressive 18.3 cu ipm. Key operations contributing to this result are:
- high-performance, heavy hogging — 25 mm (3) flute end mill with peak MRR rates of 106 cu ipm.
- one-shot wall finishing — 20 mm (3) flute end mill with axial engagement of up to 3.5 in for finishing part walls in a single pass.
For more information on the Makino a51nx horizontal machining center, aerospace manufacturing and aluminum machining, please click here.
Editor’s Note: This video is property of Makino.
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