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Written by Laura S. West    Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Makino, the global machine tool company, has linked the capabilities of a new series of machining centers with an advanced technology for cutting titanium, the expensive, lightweight and durable metal that coexists easily with composites. In a recent demonstration, company officials exhibited an edge frame for a Boeing 787 that was produced by a five-axis T4 horizontal machine center in 11.1 hr. At this rate, the T4 has a nearly 4-1 productivity advantage over older machining equipment, says Thomas Clark, vice president. The T4 uses a technology dubbed "Advantige," that employs an Autonomic Spindle Technology that monitors and adjusts in real time to improve performance and deliver coolants to the cutting process. It offers innovative ways to dampen vibration, along with novel milling strategies for performance enhancement. The average life expectancy of costly high-technology tool bits are doubled, says CEO Don Lane. A Coolant Microsizer System improves tool cooling and lubricity. Rigid machine construction suppresses vibration and reduces tool chipping while it improves metal removal rates. In a demonstration for 244 industry representatives attending May 20 Global Titanium Day here, the T4 machining center removed metal from a titanium billet and produced an aerospace part up to five times faster than older technology. In one case, the life of a cutting tool increased to 130 min. from a previous average of 46 min. The T4 automates the cutting process and "is never down," says Clark. Tool bits are lodged in rounded slots that recall wine storage. A computer program shifts the milling tools into position for cutting. As a measure of the costs involved, titanium billets and forgings range from $30,000-50,000 and produce large parts that can cost up to $300,000 each. Makino developed the technology during an 18-month period that started at the Tokyo headquarters and continued at Makino's Global Titanium Research and Development Center, launched this year at Mason. A group of specialist engineers are studying further development of titanium milling technologies. Officials will work with vendors to develop a wide knowledge base in all types of titanium applications. The R&D center features a variety of machining platforms. These include horizontal machining centers, vertical machining centers, five-axis machining, and wire and ram electrical discharge machining centers. The T-series machines are custom built for titanium aerospace parts and are the first to include the "Advantige" technology. "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 Clark The T4 produces large parts such as fuselage structures for the Boeing 787, Airbus A350 and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Titanium is the metal for high-stress areas including the center wing box, wing, pylons, nacelles, doors, windows, bulkheads and tail cones. The T2 machining center, which produces smaller parts, will be available in October. The T2 will use the same Advantige technology and has "the same DNA as the T4," says Clark. "It's ideal for making large engine cases." Makino expects to sell 6-8 T4s this year, and is scheduled to highlight the new technology at the Farnborough air show along with MAG-series aluminum machining centers and the G5 multi-functional five-axis horizontal machining center. Makino, 7680 Innovation Way, Mason, Ohio 45040-8003 or www.makino.com An edge frame for a Boeing 787 is displayed in front of Makino's new T4 series of machining centers. New titanium cutting technology has speeded up parts production. The cutting head of a T4 horizontal machining center takes a bite out of metal.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 December 2011 )