Makino D500

The Makino D500 is a five-axis vertical machining center for complex mold work, with a 500 mm diameter (19.6 in diameter) table, a 400 x 400 mm (15.7 in x 15.7 in) pallet in the pallet-changer version, and travels of 550 mm (21.6 in) in X, 1,000 mm (39.4 in) in Y and 500 mm (19.7 in) in Z. Y is nearly twice X, so the machine is deeper front to back than it is wide in its working range.

The trunnion is the design point Makino explains in most detail. It runs parallel to the X axis, which Makino says removes cradle deflection during linear acceleration, and the A axis is driven by direct-drive motors at both ends to stop the trunnion twisting under heavy cuts or when machining away from the center of rotation. A tilts +30/-120 and C rotates 360. Insulated castings, core-cooled ballscrews, temperature-controlled motors and spindle and Makino's Thermal Stabilizer technology are aimed at holding accuracy as shop conditions change.

Four spindles are listed. 14,000 rpm is standard; 12,000, 20,000 and 30,000 rpm spindles are optional, so the spindle can be matched to the work, from a lower-speed unit to a 30,000 rpm spindle for small cutters. Rapid traverse on X is 48,000 mm/min and the X cutting feedrate 32,000 mm/min.

The workpiece limits depend on the setup: the table carries 350 kg (770 lb.) and a pallet 300 kg (660 lb.), with parts up to 650 mm x 500 mm height (conditional) (25.6 in diameter x 19.6 in height (conditional)). The magazine starts at 60 tools and can be ordered at 80, 113, 155, 197, 239, 281 or 323. Tool change is not quick, at 4.2 sec tool-to-tool and 10.2 sec chip-to-chip, and tools are limited to 140 mm (conditional) (5.5 in (conditional)) and 8 kg (17.6 lb).

The D500 can be delivered stand-alone or with an automatic pallet changer, and the APC can be added at installation or later. It can also be connected to an MMC2 pallet system and run alongside a51 horizontal machining centers. The control is the Makino Professional 6.