EMO 2017 Sets the Pace for Future Production
While the topic of Industry 4.0 took center stage in Hannover at the world’s largest metalworking trade fair, EMO 2017, Gardner's European Correspondent Barbara Schulz was on the lookout for what's new in production machining.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (third from left) opened EMO Hannover 2017 saying, “An open society and prosperous economy rest on a foundation of communication and trust. Trade fairs like EMO embody this in a concrete and tangible way. Fortunately, this tradition continues to flourish, even in an age of digital catalogs, video conferences and just-in-time production.”
Markus Flik, CEO of the Chiron Group (right), said the group was strongly committed to the Asian and North American markets. In addition to the main factory in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chiron opened a second location in Plymouth, Michigan, near Detroit, in 2016. To further expand its proximity to customers in the growing Mexican market, the Chiron Group founded its own sales and service company in Querétaro, Mexico, in 2017.
Tornos showcased its Multi-Swiss 6x16 and 6x32, and premiered the Swiss-Deco multitasking single-spindle lathe. This strong 36-mm diameter machine integrates a 12-position turret that allows the machine to machine the most demanding parts, the company says.
Tornos' Multi-Swiss 6x16 with 14 linear axes and seven C axes combines the benefits of single-spindle turning machines with the advantages of multi-spindle machines.
DMG Mori’s new Multisprint machines combine the production capability of a six-spindle multi with a Swiss-type machine. It features a Y axis in all spindle positions as standard and allows for double-rear and off-center machining.
Parts manufactured on the Multisprint 25: Up to 28 tools including 24 driven tools and speeds up to 13,800 rpm with a maximum torque of 14.2 Nm allow for the production of complex parts.
The Index MS22-8 multi features eight spindles and enables simultaneous backworking with two subspindles.
"We have been offering the MS40C with six spindles and are now able to even further boost our customers' productivity, giving them eight spindles that are each assigned two cross-slides with up to 16 tools in total," says Karl-Heinz Schumacher, head of Index multi-spindle development and construction department, about the MS40C-8.
The Index B400 universal turning machine premiered at EMO 2017. It features a bar capacity of 82 mm and chucking capacity of up to 315 mm.
This part was completely machined in only three seconds on a Schütte AC10-36 eight-spindle multi, featuring two subspindles for rear machining.
This Schütte AC10-36 eight-spindle multi features two subspindles for rear machining.
This part was completely machined in only three seconds on a Schütte AC10-36 eight-spindle multi, featuring two subspindles for rear machining.
With the rotational turning process developed and patented by Weisser, finely machined surfaces can be generated free of twist with a precision finish, thus completely substituting costly grinding processes, the company says.
Citizen was showcasing its range of machines, highlighting low frequency vibration (LFV) cutting. Chips are broken up in a controlled way, thus eliminating machine stops because of tangled, long chips.
I have always enjoyed my visits to EMO Hannover (Germany) since 2005, and this year was no exception. Themed “Connecting Systems for Intelligent Production,” the show had a strong focus on current manufacturing trends such as Industry 4.0, digitization and energy efficiency. And the high number of deals sealed during the six-day event worth $8 billion surely reflects the strong economic growth in the major industrial markets around the globe.
The biggest show was probably once again put on by DMG Mori, who were showcasing around 80 machines on 107,000 square feet in the entire Hall 2 at the Hannover showgrounds. Among the company's eight world premieres were two new machines, the Multisprint 25 and 36 multi-spindle automatic lathes. The machines allow for the manufacture of complex turned and milled parts in both chuck and bar machining and combine DMG Mori's Swisstypekit from its Sprint model series with a multi-spindle machine.
A similar concept was shown by Tornos with its Multi-Swiss machines, combining the production capability of a six-spindle CNC with the sliding headstock Z-axis feed of a Swiss-type.
But there was so much more to see in all 17 halls, where 2,200 companies were showcasing their newest developments. Browse our slideshow above to see what keeps you turning.
