Makino iQ300

The Makino iQ300 is a precision micro milling machine with a 45,000 rpm HSK-E32 spindle and 400 mm (15.7 in) of X, 350 mm (13.78 in) of Y and 200 mm (7.87 in) of Z. Makino aims it at LED tooling, optic surface finishes and other high-tolerance work, and it is the smaller of the two iQ machines.

What Makino lists for it is mostly about holding position at the sub-micron level. The axes use a linear motor design with 0.005-micron scale feedback, and the machine's components are temperature controlled. The spindle has a core-cooling, under-race and jacket temperature control system intended to keep thermal growth, deflection and vibration out of long high-speed runs. The Makino Hybrid Automatic Tool Length Measurement System (HyATLM) measures tool lengths to sub-micron levels, so a surface finished with one tool blends with an area cut by the next.

The limits are those of a micro machine. Tools may be up to 20 mm (0.78 in) in diameter, workpieces up to 600 x 580 x 190 mm (23.6 in x 22.8 in x 7.48 in) and 100 kg (220 lb). The 600 x 400 mm (23.6 in x 15.7 in) table carries the work, and the short Z stroke leaves little room for tall fixtures. Axis feeds are 16,000 mm/min in X and Y and 8,000 mm/min in Z, both as rapid and as cutting feed; micro cutters run far below those rates, so the axes rarely limit a cut.

The iQ500 keeps the spindle, the 40-tool magazine and the feed rates but moves to 600 mm (23.6 in) of X, 500 mm (19.7 in) of Y and 300 mm (11.8 in) of Z. Buy the iQ300 when parts fit its envelope, and note that the table gives no spindle power or torque: this is a finishing and micro-feature machine, not one for removing stock.