WFL is the complete machining leader at AMB Stuttgart!

August 5, 2022 12:24 pm

At AMB 2022, WFL Millturn Technologies will be presenting the new M20 MILLTURN complete machining centre for the first time. Alongside gear skiving technology, there is clear trend toward automation and the integration of sensors. The latest solutions from WFL range from smart software  to screw programming through to intelligent tools and clamping devices. 

WFL is the only manufacturer worldwide that concentrates exclusively on the production of multifunctional  complete machining centres. In many high-tech companies today, the trade name MILLTURN stands for  the central machine tool for the production of complex components with the highest precision. 

The M20-G showcased at AMB is equipped with an innovative automation solution – the intCELL. The integrated production cell is fitted on the right-hand side of the machine, the workpieces are supplied on a strip  accumulator. With the integrated loading concept, WFL has reduced the space requirement by 50% in comparison to a conventional production cell. The M20’s integrated loading feature is designed for chuck parts  with a diameter of up to 300mm and a workpiece weight of 15kg. For shaft parts, a workpiece diameter of  100mm and a workpiece length of 300mm is possible. 

The turning-boring-milling unit with integrated spindle motor and a B-axis with torque motor are entirely new  features. The individual tool holder with B-axis on the lower slide is another highlight. The upper and lower  system can be used simultaneously, and both systems are supplied by a reliable and dynamic tool changer  from a shared magazine. This allows even complex components to be machined with optimal efficiency,  and the setup of the tool turret is no longer necessary. The tool can be moved up to 100mm below the  turning centre, so drill patterns with diameters of up to 200mm can be produced on the face with a high level  of precision and without turning the C-axis. 

Universal machining solutions with the M50-G MILLTURN 

The new M50-G MILLTURN generation, with greater center distance and improved performance, will be  another highlight of the AMB. The optional centre distance of 6000mm enables efficient machining of long  shaft parts. When designing the M50, WFL implemented some of the features of the larger M80. The ma chine’s existing potential is fully utilised, particularly in terms of the increased drive power, combined with  the HSK-A100 or Capto C8 tool accommodation. The turning diameter is available up to 670mm and the fully developed, proven machine concept of the M50 MILLTURN has also been given an attractive ergo nomic finish. A separate pick-up magazine is also available for very long and/or heavy tools. Workpieces  with a length of 1600mm can be automatically inserted and changed. The standard disc magazine can be  expanded to up to 200 positions. 

On this machine, trade fair visitors will be able to witness a turbine blade/screw being machined live. Com ponents such as turbine blades or plasticising screws require both dynamic and stable machining concepts.  A special clamp from the manufacturer Grasch can be used to clamp rectangular raw materials easily and  securely, a fundamental requirement when machining turbine blades. Technologies known as ‘helical spiral  milling’ and ‘helical longitudinal milling’ are used to machine the blade. 

Integrated production cell for automatic loading and unloading: intCELL.

Smart tools: ICOtronic and ultrasound measuring 

The ICOtronic tool, which is fitted with sensors, provides information on the machining process as close as  possible to the cutting edge. This should not only optimise milling processes in the future, but also in crease the machines’ productivity. The demo at AMB will give a small insight into WFL’s wide variety of  development projects. 

Ultrasound measuring will also be demonstrated live for the visitors to the trade fair. The automatically  loading ultrasound measuring probe enables a fully automated measuring process. The large measuring  range (1.5–30mm) offers further benefits. Ultrasound measuring is extremely well suited for calculating the  hole run-out and diameter of very deep holes. 

Easy screw programming with ScrewCAM 

ScrewCAM will be used at AMB to demonstrate the latest and most innovative software for programming  plasticising screws with complex geometries. The geometrical functions that can be manufactured include,  among others, single or multi-threaded screws, variable depths, flexible pitch adjustment, wall shaping  and wall incline. In addition, the entire NC programme will be checked for collisions and the correctness of  the workpiece geometry produced, using a material removal simulation and geometrical verification  against the 3D target geometry of the screw. The result is a verified NC programme with estimated ma chining time.

Operational data acquisition with myWFL 

As introduced at AMB, the new operational data acquisition system is myWFL Cockpit. Machine and pro gram states will be displayed according to chronological order, productivity and technical availability. You  can view this on a web browser via the control system, either on a PC or a mobile device. This means that  the user can always be well-informed about their machine productivity. 

Also new with myWFL Cockpit is the integration of the energy usage measurement device myWFL Energy  which displays the current power and energy consumption data and that of each workpiece. Another highlight of myWFL is the integrated Condition Monitoring cycle. When the cycle is running, the  friction values of the axes and spindles, as well as the temperature in the milling spindle housing and the  vibration or the rolling bearing condition value of the front milling spindle bearing are continuously recorded  and stored on the control system. Using Condition Monitoring Viewer, it is possible to select the data of the  various Condition Monitoring runs on the control system, graphically overlay them and analyse them ac cording to time in this way. This allows for the early detection of possible malfunctions and minimises un planned downtimes.