Pinnacle Machine Tool Co.,Ltd.Has Launched Feature-Laden Five-Axis CNC Machining Centers

Pinnacle Machine Tool Co.,Ltd.has launched feature-laden five-axis CNC machining centers to meet rising demand from high-end manufacturers looking to maintain precision production but reduce cost to be more competitive amid various discouraging economic news,including the lingering EU peripheral zone debt woes,more potential bailouts for eastern EU members,anemic economic growth in the U.S.,and a slowdown in China's economy.

Among the company's latest machines are the AX and BX series.

The AX320 and AX450 are ideal for making precision components with multi-asymmetric faces notably used in aircrafts and medical equipment,as well as fan blades for car turbo engines.Both models feature a 360-degree turntable along C axis,with AX450's table measuring 450mm in diameter and AX320's measuring 320mm.AX320's table tilt along the A-axis ranges-120 to+30 degrees,with the other being-110 to+110 degrees.

AX320's travel range of X,Y,Z axes is 660mm x 610mm x 610mm on linear roller guideway.AX450's travel range of X,Y,Z axes is 760mm x 610mm x 560mm.Feed rate of X,Y,Z axes is 30m x 30m x 24m per minute on both AX320 and AX450.Both machines are equipped with 9/12 KW spindle motors and ISO40 spindle taper.

The positioning accuracy of A/C-axis is 15/10 arcsecond and repeatability accuracy of A/C-axis is 10/5 arcsecond on both AX320 and AX450,with cutting quality and accuracy maintained by coolers that confine headstock temperature within acceptable range,with coolant circulated through ball screws to minimizes temperature variation.

The AX family is equipped with HEIDENHAIN iTNC530 control unit made by Heidenhain GmbH of Germany to assure high working precision of the 10,000rpm direct drive spindle.Aided by tool center point management(TCPM)mechanism,iTNC530 automatically corrects tool path based on machining geometry and tool length as well as compensates for 3D tool radius.

Dynamic collision monitoring(DCM)enables trial runs to minimize downtime due to collisions.

The AX320 and 450 feature intelligent design for complicated workpieces can be finished in a single setup to boost machining efficiency and accuracy,as well as minimizing idle time.

BX Series

The BX family is developed to simplify setup and production of complicated,multi-sided parts without losing precision,accuracy and time.

The BX300A,BX500A and BX700A are vertical machining centers outfitted with a 120-degree swing spindle head turning at 15,000 rpm and a 360-degree turntable.

The BX family is patented in Taiwan and China for a unique table design,enabling the turntable to seamlessly dock with standard T-slot table on the same plane to form a bigger table for bigger workpieces.Rigid bearing and hydraulic systems assure a minimum 0.0001 arcsecond of positioning accuracy,with permanent magnetic motor providing high torque output and power to meet different cutting demands.

 

Deformation and backlash on ball screws along X,Y,Z axes are significantly minimized due to oil coolant running through the hollow screw rods.Roller guideways ensure optimum rigidity and speed of X,Y,Z-axes travel.High response pneumatic cylinders and an air reservoir tank generate counterbalancing force to ensure fast,stable Z-axis movement,enabling highly smooth surface finish on workpieces.

 

Like the AX series,BX is also controlled by Heidenhain iTNC530.

 

The general manager,Allen Hsieh,says the company plans to add the CX series to its lineup soon,which are double-column CNC machining centers featuring a five-axial-travel spindle head.

 

 

The maker generates about 80%of turnover from CNC machining centers and 20%from milling machines and CNC turning centers."CNC machining centers are the most versatile among these machines.The automotive industry used to be the only one using CNC machining centers,but in recent years operators in the aircraft,green energy,3C(consumer electronics,computer and communications),and medical equipment industries have come onboard,"says Hsieh.

 

The company's CNC machining centers include vertical machining center,5-axis machining center,horizontal machining center,and CNC double column machining centers."Five-axis machining centers are generating ever higher profits for the maker,because these machines demand higher technologies than three-axis and four-axis units to command higher margins,"says Hsieh.

 

The company's latest machines target high-end markets in Germany,Russia,Turkey and Southeast Asia."Our high price/performance ratio lures buyers in these markets away from the pricier,western-made products when austerity amid the current downturn is a priority,"Hsieh says.

 

The maker posted 40-50%annual growth last year with strong orders from high-end markets,helping to meet its annual goal of 20%growth over the next few years.

 

 

Buffered

 

Orders from high-end markets have also helped buffer impact of recession in low-end and mid-range markets,with China's machine-tool market so far hurting the most to shrink around 70%year-on-year,though faring better than those in Europe and the United States,where markets have deflated by only 40-50%,says Hsieh.

 

Hsieh's observations is partly reflected by Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry's(TAMI's)data,which shows Taiwan's exports of machine tools to China declined 15.2%in the first five months from that of 2011.Meanwhile,its exports to India dropped an annual 19.1%and shipments to Brazil sank 27.4%year on year,to which TAMI researchers attribute cautious investment sentiment.

 

Also according to TAMI,in the first five months of 2012 Taiwan's machine tool shipments to the U.S.shot up 95.3%year on year,that to Thailand posted an annual rise of 74.5%,and exports to Germany and Holland also surged significantly,reflecting stout demand for high-end machines.

 

Even makers in China eager to build brands are beginning to embrace German-made and Japan-made machine tools,TAMI's studies show.

 

Although China is Taiwan's biggest export destination for machine tools,Hsieh stresses that the recession there has not caused much impact for only 5%of revenue is generated in China.

 

A CE-and EMC-certified manufacturer,Pinnacle has mostly targeted developed economies as primary markets.According to Hsieh,the company is drumming up OEM/ODM orders in the United States and promoting its branded tools in Europe,despite the shadow of Germany being the leader in machine tools.

 

History

 

The 1976-founded Pinnacle,according to Hsieh,began pushing into the European market around three decades ago,when it was still a manufacturer of traditional CNC milling machines."In the beginning,we showed up there as a contract manufacturer but now promote the Pinnacle brand,which is feasible with its high price-performance ratio and sagging competitiveness in the European machine tool industry."

 

The maker's competitiveness is built on its application software unit,composed of experienced engineers who develop new programs,with the facilities including CAD/CAM/CAE software and Finite Element Analysis."Also our reliable partnerships with dealers keep us well informed of the latest technologies and market trends to ensure Pinnacle products are popular,"Hsieh says.

 

Overcoming the continual issue of talent shortage,the maker adopts the apprenticeship program with several colleges and vocational schools near its Taichung headquarters."Staff shortage is a headache for Taiwan's machinery industry because mechanical engineering graduates tend to work for the electronics industry for bigger bonuses,so we work with nearby schools to fill engineering vacancies,"Hsieh says.

 

Cost Control

 

As machines tools come in many specifications for axial guideway and parts,material management always challenges manufacturers struggling to control material cost,which Pinnacle has managed to rein in by simplifying specifications,or in short"common or shared specification.""For instance guideways come in 500mm,600mm,800mm,one meter and 1.1 meter lengths.Stocking all specifications incur extra cost.So we try to specify one length for two similar guideways to reduce cost,though the shared specification must be acceptable to customers,"Hsieh stresses.