Optimised manufacturing workflows from GF Machining Solutions
June 25, 2020
GF Machining Solutions, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has developed a number of machining cell models to showcase its range of total manufacturing solutions. The models are said to demonstrate everything from simple pairs of machines and robots to mixed-machine configurations for advanced hybridised additive/subtractive machining strategies.
The company reports that as Additive Manufacturing and laser micromachining become increasingly common, manufacturers need a way to integrate these technologies with their conventional subtractive machining operations. GF Machining Solutions offers a three-machine cell comprised of its DMP Flex 350, AgieCharmilles CUT AM 500 and Mikron MILL S 400 U, said to offer fast, optimised hybrid part-production operations.
The DMP Flex 350 is said to enable 24/7 production of dense, pure-metal AM parts from tough-to-machine alloys including Inconel, titanium, cobalt chrome, aluminium and steel. Short changeover times and streamlined 3DXpert® parametric software are said to allow shops to move quickly from 3D modelling to AM, while the CUT AM 500 uses an innovative tilting table and horizontal wire EDM to separate parts from build plates with lower running costs and higher part quality than conventional EDMs and band saws.
To complete parts produced by metal AM as quickly as possible, GF Machining Solutions has included the MILL S 400 U in the cell, a high-speed full simultaneous 5-axis milling machine with an integrated 18-pallet changer, automatic table and workpiece cleaning system and a range of smart machining modules for advanced in-process monitoring.
Both the additive and subtractive processes are reported to utilise the same type of System 3R tooling to expedite moving parts between machines and ensure the highest repeatability.
