Matsuura Partners EDGECAM For UK Launch Of New Lights Out 5-Axis Machine

Machine tool manufacturer Matsuura partnered with EDGECAM Software at the UK launch of their new competitively priced 10 pallet, 90 tool 5-axis MX machine, which is targeted at manufacturers wanting to venture into automation and undertake reliable lights out production. Spindle utilization times on multi-pallet Matsuura machines are typically in the 80 – 90% region, with larger systems achieving high 90s.

The MX-330 PC10 was launched on to the UK market at the Southern Manufacturing Exhibition, and featured machining demonstrations of a dice, programmed with EDGECAM. Matsuura’s Area Sales Manager Mark Cumberland says: “This is the smallest machine in the MX range, and includes automation designed specifically to provide cover for unmanned overnight, production.”

It comes standard with ten pallets, 90 tools, and runs at 15,000 rpm – the only entry level 5 axis machine with proven OEM integrated automation. And EDGECAM, from Vero Software, is equally at home programming both its 3+2 configuration and its full 5-axis capability.
 
“We have a long working relationship with EDGECAM, which was already a valued technical partner on the larger MX-520 and MX-850 machine demonstrations in the recent past. EDGECAM and Matsuura have many mutual customers in the UK.”

Vero’s EMEA Strategic Partnership Manager Wes Tonks says the Southern Manufacturing trade fair was the ideal showcase for demonstrating the capability of both the machine and EDGECAM software. “We wanted to produce a component or product that was a bit different and caught the imagination, so we came up with the dice. EDGECAM provides manufacturers with the equivalent of a double six for improved cycle times and optimisation every time.”
 
EDGECAM partnered with a number of other CNC machine suppliers at the show, including Yeovil Machine Tools (YMT).

Three other software brands from the Vero stable were on show at the exhibition – VISI, RADAN, and JAVELIN.

Visitors to the Vero stand saw that CAD updates in VISI 2017 R1 are focusing on the user experience and enhancements to allow users to speed up their design process. For VISI’s CAM users, an update to geometry management means individual pieces are no longer limited by a specific project. It gives greater freedom in picking the piece, obstacle or stock, allowing any combination. This is also used for picking faces and face lists, all managed in a much more user-friendly interface, and driven inside the operation itself. Everything is now linked to the operation, not the project, and all geometry is managed interactively, picking the specific pieces or faces that the user wants to machine.

The 2017 release of the world’s most powerful sheetmetal CAD/CAM software, RADAN, was on show. Improved algorithms have led to an important enhancement of RADAN’s powerful nesting capabilities to achieve a better fit, and therefore, a potentially better material yield. It is also easier now to create nest projects, thanks to a new template function.
 
The Advanced Scheduling function in Vero’s production control system, JAVELIN, can work to the nearest second, giving an accurate sequence of operations, instead of the daily capacity bucket in earlier releases. The more accurate planning that is now available can save up to half an hour a day on each work centre.