Breton MATRIX 1000 DYNAMIC has strong shoulders

Machining accuracy and speed, these are the strong points of the Matrix 1.000 Dynamic, the Breton gantry-type machining centre with moving bridge has heavy-duty shoulders manufactured using the ground-breaking Metalquartz technology.

To face the greatest challenges you need strong, wide shoulders. When milling medium-large components, this sentence represents more than just an idiom; it's a real philosophy of construction. 
Breton, with fifty years of experience in the industry, has made this approach theirs, producing gantry-type machining centres with moving bridge supported by wide shoulders to machine large components, strong enough to guarantee a considerable milling capacity. 
The jewel in the crown of the Matrix, machining centres is the Matrix 1000 Dynamic.

For all materials

This 5-axes gantry-type machining centre with moving bridge was designed by Breton to meet new requirements associated with high speed machining of large, complex parts for the aerospace and automotive, die-manufacturing and design industries. The Matrix 1000 Dynamic has a 2,200 mm X-axis travel, 1,000 mm Z-axis travel, and a Y-axis travel that ranges from 2,500 to 6,000 mm.

As well as the impressive working range, one of the features that makes the Treviso company’s product really stand out from the crowd is the ability of machining a variety of different materials such as steel, aluminium, resin and composites. 
This  machine in fact can be fitted with a vast range of electrospindles with continuous power outputs of up to 41 kW and torque outputs of up to 100 Nm, which combined with a rotation speed of 28,000 rpm offers a notable milling capacity. 
The software-controlled compensation of the electrospindle’s natural thermal expansion, and its thermal stabilization guarantee high precision machining. 

These spindles are housed in the cast iron dual fork head, which guarantees high structural rigidity and an excellent vibration dampening capacity. 
High performance models are fitted with Direct Drive heads, where the 100 rpm rotation speed combined with the continuous rotation of the C-axis shows the true potential of the machine when machining complex dynamic profiles with a high level of accuracy.

Metalquartz shoulders

Another interesting feature of the Matrix 1000 Dynamic is represented by the strong shoulders produced using innovative Metalquartz technology: a sandwich structure made of stabilized arc welded steel, with ribbing  embedded in a quartz polymer matrix composites. 
This exclusive technology ensures a very high structural rigidity and vibration damping, which guarantees a better surface finish and a longer service life of the cutting tools.

The carriage and beam travel on properly dimensioned recirculating roller guideways to ensure machining accuracy and stability. Linear axis speed can reach 60 m/min thanks to the digital drives with brushless servomotors and the ground ball screw and double preloaded ball nut assembly. 
To guarantee the highest accuracy, the position of the beam and carriage is read by optical scales.

Customization

Performance at a dynamic level, offering high power and precision, are not the only advantages, and the machine can be customized with a series of accessories to meet the customer's specific requirements. 
In fact Breton also offers wheel-type or chaintype tool magazines with a fast manipulator to reduce tool changeover times. 

These magazines are installed outside the work area so they can't come into contact with milling dust or residues, and can be fitted with a system for the automatic encoding of tool data and a chip reader for an even higher level of plant automation.

On the basis of the milling operations to be performed, the tool cooling system may use compressed air, a spray mist system, or coolant sprayed inside and outside the spindle at a set or variable pressure of up to 70 bar.

For customers machining composites and resins we can supply dust extraction systems to install on the spindle nose, and top-roof bellows to isolate the work area from the surrounding environment, protecting the operator from any noxious or harmful elements. 

The fact that all the kinematic mechanisms have been located at the top of the machine is proof of the focus on operator safety. Finally, to meet every possible application requirement, the Breton Matrix 1.000 Dynamic can be configured for pendular machining in two work areas.

For INFO and request write to mail@breton.it.

Well, that’s all for today. 

By-by

Sergio Prior

(Articolo estratto da TM - Tecnologie Meccaniche/Speciale Stampi)

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5-axes gantry, aluminium, Breton Matrix 1.000 Dynamic, composites, resin, steel, vertical machining centres centers

Red Bull continues to win

2013 Formula 1 Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championship: another title for Red Bull team and Sebastian Vettel.

The racing cars of the Austrian team mount components produced also by Breton MATRIX 5-axis vertical machining centres.

Breton is presently installing a new MATRIX 1300 K30 machining centre alongside of the three existing MATRIX:

- 2 MATRIX 1300

- 1 MATRIX 800

Breton Matrix 1300 K30

Breton Matrix 1300 K30

Breton Matrix 1300 K30

Red Bull racing cars also mount OZ wheel rims produced by Breton XCEEDER vertical machining centre.

Breton Xceeder

Breton Xceeder

Write to mail@breton.it for more INFO about our high-speed machining centres.

By-by
Sergio Prior

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breton machining centre, breton matrix, breton xceeder, composite machinery, high speed vertical machining centre

Ultrix with change pallet

Good morning,
Today I'd like to talk about the ideal solution that all fabrication shops should adopt.

Breton ULTRIX 1000/RT/HD is a high-speed, vertical, multi-function machining centre with mobile bridge and 5 interpolated axes to perform milling, turning and grinding operations on steel, superalloys and aluminium components; therefore, the machine enables to turn pieces from rough-cut into finished in a single setup.

Automatic pallet change

Thanks to the pallet change, there's no need to stop the machine since tooling is carried out while it is working.
Breton pallet-changing system handles automatically two or five pallets with a diameter of 1.000 mm (additional pallets are available).

The pallet-changing system mainly consists of:

– CNC controlled pallet change with single- or double-forked pick-up tongs
– precise piece loading/unloading station with manual rotation and indexing of the loading position
– hydraulic device for pallet centring and clamping on the machine by means of frontal Hirth couplings
– nr. 2/5 standard steel pallets with a diameter of 1.000 mm, with 4 manual, independent or self-centring claws, complete with lock and locating device on the machine table, with 22 mm T-slots for fixing the equipment
– maximum load capacity on the pallet: 1.000 kg

– boxed-in safety shields with wide inspection ports and doors for access to both the loading/unloading system and the machine for setup and inspection of the piece during machining, with pallet-changing system switched on the "Recovery" mode; an electric lock opens and locks manually both doors
– the machine safety guards are provided with automatic opening for the pallet change.

If you are looking for an automatic multi-pallet changing system, click here or on the picture here below.

For more info or for receiving and offer, write to mail@breton.it.

Well, that’s all for today.

By-by

Sergio Prior

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5 axis machining centers, aerospace machining, breton Ultrix, pallet exchange systems, Vertical high speed turning milling center

NEW Matrix JET

A competitive solution

High-speed precision machining centre for milling complex three-dimensional work-pieces which require accurate machining and continuous axis interpolation. MATRIX JET 1000 is the ideal solution to satisfy production requirements across a multitude of industrial applications from aerospace industry to automotive, die-manufacturing and design.     

Wide choice of configurations for customized performances

Various solutions for the best machine configuration to satisfy each need:

· Standard model with one working area

· Model with two working areas for pendular machining

Easy access and perfect visibility

Great accessibility and visibility of the working area thanks to the machine structure with moving bridge and wide lateral doors that make the work-piece loading easier.

Precision, Dynamics and Flexibility when machining at high speed with 5 continuous axes

In order to guarantee high performance, the new MATRIX JET 1000 is built on a heavy-duty cast iron bedplate which acts as a support for the bridge sliding. Columns consist of a sandwich structure made of arc-welded and stabilized steel.

Monitoring and in-process inspections

MATRIX JET 1000 can be supplied with a laser tool presetter and a radio frequency probe for acquiring work-piece size and coordinates.

A superior head

The electrospindles offer always the best machining performance thanks to the cast-iron fork designed head which offers structural rigidity with efficient vibration damping properties. The highest-performance models are provided with Direct Drive motorized heads.

High-speed, Performance and Precision

The carriage and beam travel on properly dimensioned recirculating roller guideways ensure machining precision and stability. Axes are moved by a ground ball screw and double preloaded ball nut assembly. Maximum axis precision is achieved thanks to the micrometric technology applied. Axes are powered by digital drives and ultimate generation brushless servomotors.

Wide choice of electrospindles

The MATRIX JET 1000 machining centre can be supplied with a wide range of electrospindles depending on the type of material to be machined. Machining precision is always guaranteed by the thermal stabilising system which consists of a special software designed and developed to compensate natural thermal expansion in the electrospindles when machining conditions vary.

The ideal cooling system

Depending on the type of machining, the tool cooling system can use a coolant liquid which flows inside and outside the spindle (60 L/min) with fixed or variable (up to 70 bar) internal pressure, or incorporate a spray mist system, or simply use compressed air.

For INFO and request write to mail@breton.it.
By-by
Sergio Prior

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aerospace industry, automotive, breton vertical machining centres, matrix jet, pendular machining

Breton XCEEDER - a flexible machining centre

IDEAL SOLUTION

Xceeder is the high speed portal machining center with trunnion table and 5 axis, built for precision, longevity and reliability in milling operations of small to large parts.
Not simply a machining center but a complete precision manufacturing cell offering all the required productivity and flexibility. 

THREE CONFIGURATIONS, UNLIMITED APPLICATIONS

The Xceeder series offers multiple configurations to face at best all the applications ranging from the tough superalloys up to the most complex composites materials. Three available versions with maximum machining diameters of 900mm, 1200mm e 1400mm (35.5’’, 47’’, 55’’) tailored to the production of complex gears, impellers, blisks, jet-engine parts, moulds, dies and tools. Projects in aerospace, automotive, power generation, and general industry.

ERGONOMICS AND CONVENIENCE

The Xceeder series is designed for USER-FRIENDLY and productivity enhancing operation.

Provided with full frontal and overhead access to simplify and normalize load/unload operations of even the most precise and sensible parts. 

The wide doors with large inspection windows grant to the operators an accurate process supervision on absolute safety also on installations with APC systems.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ON ROCK-SOLID BASES

It is from the heart of the Xceeder structures that most of its multiple advantages originate. Its base is not simply a monoblock but,  due to the dampening capacity of Breton patented ‘Metalquartz’, thermal inertia and removal of vibrations combine together to guarantee top quality , higher accuracy and reduced cutting-tools wear.   

The robust ribbed portal is guided and driven by a Gantry system assuring a perfect thrust and thermal symmetry, thus avoiding any undesired torsions. It is with extreme easiness that Xceeder reaches the inner sides of narrowest components or any angle on the most complex parts. This is made possible by its sturdy vertical RAM and by the trunnion-type tables equipped with the most dynamic and efficient DirectDrive technology. 

POWERFUL HIGH SPEED

High Dynamics: To be strong, fast and accurate at the same time is not an easy task, and not for everyone. Xceeder is all in one, thanks to the axis drives at 60m/min (2360’’/min) on short-pitch recirculating ballscrews and to the use of DirectDrive motors with brisky accelerations, high Jerks and tight contour tolerances.

ELETTROSPINDLE 
The various Xceeder configurations always guarantee the highest efficiency in milling operation due to an accurate selection of branded electrospindles with their combination of torque, power and speed. 

From 30 to 480Nm, from 20 to 85Kw (27-115Hp) with 14.000, 18.000 e 28.000rpm it is always easy to find the best set performances to get the most from any material. 

Here you can find technical data about our several Xceeder models.

For request or INFO about Breton XCEEDER write to mail@breton.it. 

Well, that’s all for today.

By-by

Sergio Prior

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5 axis machining centers, aerospace industry, aerospace machining, breton xceeder, high speed portal machining center

Fast, for complex moulds

Mondialstampi needed to produce large, high quality moulds with complex profile shapes as quickly as possible; the answer was the Breton Flymill 1000 machining centre, and considering the mould improvements achieved, it was exactly the right choice. 

When we move around the home or the garden we rarely pay much attention to the objects around us because we see them every day and know them well. If we did stop to look at them closely we'd soon realize that most of them are made of plastic. The same conclusion would be reached also if we were to examine our cars, both inside and out.   What's fascinating about this is the complexity of some of these parts: wafer thin in sophisticated shapes. A lot of work goes into the design of parts like these, not just the design of the part itself but in particular the mould into which the plastic will be injected. 

For Mondialstampi  a company that has become highly successful in the industry since its incorporation in Vicenza in 1990, solving problems in the plastic injection-moulding process is their daily bread.

For your home and car

“Our company is entirely dedicated to the production of injection moulds,” says Mondialstampi owner Giorgio Cortese. “We specialize in medium-large moulds mainly for household goods, such as under-bed storage units, boxes and other storage units of various shapes and sizes. We also produce moulds for automotive parts, such as bumpers, wings and interior trim, and last but not least, we make moulds for various garden articles such as outdoor storage cupboards, plant containers, composters and ornamental objects. In collaboration with third parties we also touch on many other minor sectors, but the three I have mentioned are the primary drivers of our business.”                  

“We've always worked very intensively in Italy, although market conditions have led us increasingly to look towards exports,” continues Diego Bertollo, Head of Mondialstampi's Engineering Department “Today, our production is roughly half and half: 50% for the domestic market, and the rest for export, mainly to other EU countries. We also export to Russia, Canada, and South America and, on a smaller scale, to several other countries.”
Today the company has a workforce of around 50, of whom 10 in the Engineering Department, where mould design activities are conducted using CAD/CAM systems. We have 20 technicians in the workshop and another 15 people engaged in mould assembly and testing procedures.

A well-defined structure

The Engineering Department has a very delicate job: the moulds are produced in a co-engineering process together with the customer since this approach has proven to be the optimal way to produce any given component, but it means we must also adapt each and every solution to comply with the technology and plant available to the customer.                               

Once the 3D model of the part has been created, meetings are held to eliminate any possible misunderstandings between the mould designer and the customer in terms of the solutions to adopt. When the project has been approved, the 3D model is used to produce the actual mould. First, the guidelines of the mould are defined, and then the engineering department uses CAD software to produce the definitive 3D model. The next stage involves the transition to CAM, the implemented features of which mean it can automatically recognize a large number of the work processes defined in CAD. 

“At this point the production department takes over, but first the steel ordered by the engineering department for the mould is checked before it goes into production,” explains Cortese. “The initial roughing operations are now performed on some of the machine tools at our disposal. As the production cycle proceeds, the plates are moved to the finishing machines to create angled holes and for other special machining processes.”

Once machining chips have been removed, the plates are transferred to the assembly area, where operators check conformity of the parts before proceeding with assembly. “To aid our personnel and minimize the risk of errors we've equipped the various assembly areas with CAD stations,” explains Bertollo. “Thanks to this solution, our personnel can actually see how the various parts fit together, leaving no room for doubt.” Once finished, the mould is tested in a mould testing press to check for any problems and see if any minor corrections are needed. Final testing is performed in the presence of the client, and if all requirements are met, the go-ahead for production can be given.

There's no dedicated unit in charge of quality control, which is instead performed directly on the machine using probes that can detect even the smallest imperfection so that the part can be reworked without having to remove it from the machine. Mould quality is therefore guaranteed by the two Breton machining centres installed in our factory, which are used for mould finishing operations.

Reliability pays

“In the household articles industry in particular we work with very thin parts where even one-hundredth of a millimetre can make a difference”,  continues Bertollo – “We need machining centres that can guarantee the highest quality and that’s why we chose the Breton Flymill 1000.”

“Producing large, complex moulds, reducing milling times, improving surface quality and increasing working life.  These were the requirements we wanted to address by purchasing a new 5-axes machining centre,” says Cortese. “Ten years ago we bought a Breton Matrix 800, and we've never had any problems with the plant or the after-sales service. That's why we decided to look at the possibility of purchasing another Breton machine.”

The company finally opted for a Flymill 1000, a 5-axes machining centre that differs from the Matrix in its working range, structure and spindle power: longitudinal travel of the new machine in fact is up to 8 meters and it is equipped with a 5-axes head with Direct Drive motors. In any case, both solutions were designed specifically to meet the requirements of high-speed machining in the mould  making industry, so they are the natural choice for these applications. 

In particular, the Matrix is a travelling cross beam gantry type machining centre with a fully enclosed structure and drive assemblies located at the top of the machine, making it extremely safe for operators and guaranteeing the highest level of reliability and precision during machining. The high quality and precision of the machining work are also a result of the thermal symmetry of the structure, while a thermal stabilization system for the Z axis ball nuts and bearings and axis drives keeps the temperature of these parts the same as the machine structure.

Both the Matrix and the Flymill are equipped as standard with a continuous rotation Direct Drive twist head with C axis continuous control, and the spindle can be used with a continuous power output of up to 40 kW at 18,000/28,000 rpm giving the machine considerable chip removal capacity. 
Mondialstampi actually purchased the Flymill with a more powerful head to use the new machining centre not only for finishing, like the Matrix, but also for prefinishing operations.

In addition, the new machine is much faster than the original one: 60 m/min for the X and Y axes and 100 rpm for the C axis compared to the 40 m/min and 19 rpm of the Matrix. This performance derives from the choice to equip the machine with guideways mounted on racks rather than on recirculating ball screws, giving the system a more rigid structure and allowing it to reach higher speeds.  
Furthermore, the Flymill is ideal for machining complex profiles thanks to the generous working range of the A axis, which is from –105° to +120° thus making it possible to machine difficult undercuts without having to reposition the workpiece.

“Both units are extremely high-tech solutions and that's why they're entrusted to highly specialized technicians dedicated exclusively to running the machine”. Cortese concludes – “Our aim is to exploit the Flymill to its maximum potential in order to transform our investment into a technological advantage that will help us consolidate our market position.”

For more INFO about Matrix  800 and Flymill 1000 write to mail@breton.it.

Thanks to Mondialstampi

Thanks to TM - Tecnologie Meccaniche, by Davide Davò. 
By-by
Sergio Prior

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aerospace machining, automotive machining centre, breton flymill, breton machining centre, breton matrix, mondialstampi