Enshu EV540

The Enshu EV540 is a vertical machining center that comes with an MAS BT50 spindle as standard: 6,000 min-1, a 20-tool magazine, 1,000 mm of X travel and a table rated for 1,000 kg (2,205 lb). An MAS BT40 version is listed as an option, and it changes the character of the machine, with 13,000 min-1 and 30 tools.

Start with the choice of spindle. In BT50 form the EV540 is a low-speed machine for big cutters: 6,000 min-1 is right for large face mills, boring bars and big drills in steel and iron, and too slow for small end mills in aluminium. The BT40 option more than doubles the top speed to 13,000 min-1 and raises the magazine from 20 tools to 30. The table lists no power or torque for either spindle, so the comparison of cutting capacity has to come from Enshu.

The work area is long and fairly shallow. Travels are 1,000 mm in X, 540 mm in Y and 510 mm in Z over a 1,100 x 550 mm table, so the axes cover nearly all of the table surface. A 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) load allows heavy plates, mould bases and fixtures with several vises in a row.

The axes are slower than on Enshu's smaller verticals. Rapid traverse is 32,000 mm/min, and the cutting feed rate reaches the same 32,000 mm/min with AI contour control. The EV450Te lists 50,000 mm/min (1,968.5 in/min) for both. On a machine built around heavy tools and heavy parts that is a reasonable trade, but it is a figure to weigh if most of the work is light and fast.