Mazak INTEGREX e-670H with integrated Sandvik Coromant Smart Tools Plus

On a recent visit to the Mazak Technical Centre in Worcester, MTDCNC’s Joe Reynolds spoke with Mazak’s Mark Hall to discuss the new Integrex e-670H turning centre.

Mark explains to MTD: “This machine is a full multi-tasking machine that can turn, mill and do 5-axis machining as well as a number of other operations. This makes it a very attractive machine for our customers.”

“To give you an idea of the size of the machine. It has a 1m swing diameter and it goes to a bed length of 6m with a weight load of 7 tonnes. Looking at target markets, this machine is ideal for the aerospace industry for parts such as landing gear as well as the oil and gas sector. The machine is targeted at companies that make high value complex workpieces. When developing a machine like this, it’s not about the swing diameter and capacity, its more about the component and what features are on the machine to process parts. Very complex workpieces require those innovative solutions.

“With regard to those features, we have a particularly long boring head with depths of 1.5m; this allows the complete job to be machined automatically. The partnership with Sandvik Coromant has been very interesting, we are both innovative companies and we see Smart Tooling as an opportunity for our business. It’s a game changing technology and we have been for a long time developing a ‘done-in-one’ system and as the market changes, people want to reduce their downtimes. Furthermore, skills shortages are appearing. So, this type of technology is very beneficial.”

Integrating the tooling to the machine via Industry 4.0, Mr Hall says: “When we developed the new Smooth control system, one of our key objectives was connectivity. So, when it came to working with Sandvik, their engineers could connect the equipment directly to our machine. From an operator perspective, they can now access the Sandvik Smart Technology through our CNC control units. The benefit for the customer is that when working with high-value equipment and parts, we have to machine parts in the most efficient and process stable manner that will protect the key assets.”