Thursday 1 March 2012

Breton MAXIMA - Multitasking vertical machining centre (part 1)


Specifically designed and developed for demanding markets, Maxima performs to its best in terms of precision and productivity combining 5axis milling with turning. Thanks to a design that offers interesting possibilities to users, first of all pendulum machining while carrying out turning and milling operations.
Maxima is a machine developed from the experience gained by Breton with other models, from which it has taken the best that they could offer. Breton engineers have started from a heavy structure gantry machine, then adding a turning table and a head change system able to manage both the milling and the turning process at best.
It is really a machine with double possibilities because, besides relying on a modern milling machine, thanks to the head change it is possible to carry out also turning operations (even heavy) without stressing the components exclusively designed for milling.
Solid and stable

Starting from the structure, electrowelded steel,  coupling the steel with an optimized geometry it is possible to obtain the correct sizing of each component of Maxima.
But not only: the inside of each module is filled by an engineered granite patented by Breton, MetalQuartz, which offers interesting properties. First of all, it contributes in the vibration dampening, consequently increasing the stability and the quality of machined surfaces. Besides, this composite silicon-quartz material owns the same thermal expansion coefficient as the structure steel.
Milling and turning
Maxima is sold in different versions and configurations. The most evident element is the Y axis travel that, as above mentioned, can vary depending on the purchaser’s requirements simply adding other modules during its manufacturing.
Another value that characterizes each machine consists in the turning table diameter: we start from the smallest, with 1,200 mm diameter, up to 3,000 mm of Maxima 2500, passing through the 1,600 mm version.
The smallest tables are operated by direct drive, while with bigger diameters traditional motors in dual drive configuration are used. In this way it is possible to reach different speeds, torque and powers, suitable for specific uses.

The version with 3,000 mm diameter guarantees the maximum power of 100 kW, 116 kW in S6 at 40%, and a torque of 20,000 Nm (24,600 Nm in S6). With such characteristics, the 230 rpm that the motor/transmission group can offer is more than eough to machine with high peripheral speeds and heavy stock removals, like a real vertical lathe.
Besides, when it performs a turning operation the Gantry axis and the Z axis are kept in position by a set of hydraulic brakes, ideal for assuring the best statics of the structure without putting engines under strain.
 

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