Machining cell
By Staff | March 2008
Methods Machine Tools (Sudbury, Mass.) has introduced the JobShop Cell, an integrated production unit that combines a Fanuc RoboDrill vertical machining center (VMC) with a fully interfaced, high-speed, 6-axis Fanuc LR Mate 200iC robot for automated loading/unloading. The VMC features a 14-tool (or optional 21-tool) changer, torque to 56 ft-lb, rigid tapping to 5,000 RPM (8,000 RPM optional), accelerations to 1.5G in x, y and z axes, rapid traversing (to 2,125 ipm), feed rates to 1,181 ipm (2,362 ipm optional), high-speed reverse tapping, thread milling, 1,000 registerable programs, and 54 work offsets. The robot comes with grippers, a teaching pendant, and several customizable programs. The cell also includes inbound and outbound conveyors, safety guards and a standardized work-handling interface that accommodates a variety of hydraulic or pneumatic workholding options.
