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As well as demonstrating 12 machines at the UK's MACH 2008 show, Hardinge will launch machines into the UK market such as a 5-axis machining centre

A market-leading turning, milling and grinding machine tool manufacturer and workholding specialist, Hardinge, will be showing its very latest milling, turning and grinding machines and workholding and automation solutionsooks sat the UK's MACH 2008 machine tool exhibition. Operating from four adjacent stands the company will have 12 machine tools on show.

Hardinge will be using MACH 2008 to launch a number of machines into the UK market, such as the XR 300 5AX 5-axis machining centre.

In addition to machine tool technology Hardinge will also exhibit selected Hardinge Motorsport-sponsored racing cars and bikes on its Stands.

These include the 2008 Force India Formula One Racing car; the GIL Motorsport (Team Kawasaki) 2008 World Supersport bike and the Hardinge Ice Valley Motorsport (Honda Fireblade) 2008 British Superbike.

Hardinge's UK sales and marketing director, David Andrew, said: 'We are delighted to be showcasing the 2008 Force India F1 racing car at MACH and have been able to do this following the technical partnership agreement signed between Hardinge and Force India Formula One just a couple of months ago'.

* Machine tool highlights - milling technology - from 'high-end', advanced 5-axis and 3-axis machining centres right through to high-performance standard milling machines - Hardinge's milling line-up at MACH has something for everyone, said the company.

1 - XR300 5AX and XR600 5AX - Hardinge's latest generation of 5-axis machining centres include the XR 300 5AX.

It is a compact 5-axis machining centre.

The machine, as well as its competitive price is a powerful performer and can handle components up to 300mm diameter and is equipped with the Heidenhain iTNC 530 CNC and a 25kW (S6 40%) 12,000 rev/min spindle.

The machine also has 20bar TSC capability; a 48-position automatic tool changer (ATC) and swarf conveyor.

The XR 600 5AX machine provides customers with optimum 'one-hit' machining and is ideal for five-face and simultaneous 5-axis machining.

With its bridge design and an ultra-rigid and thermally-stable structure the XR 600 5AX is equipped with a wide working envelope, 60 tool ATC (120 tool option), high-efficiency swarf management system, and the Heidenhain iTNC 530 CNC (that now includes collision detection software as standard).

The machine is aimed at precision manufacturers operating in the aerospace, medical, motor sport sectors, etc.

2 - XR760 with 4th axis direct-drive technology - the XR760 vertical machining centre is equipped with an advanced heavy-duty face and taper belt-driven spindle (12,000 rev/min with SK 40 taper) with 20bar through-spindle-coolant capability.

The machine has fast rapid feeds (43m/min in X and Y-axis; 36m/min on Z-axis), a 30-position ATC (48-position option), a universal swarf management system and Renishaw tool and workpiece probes.

To demonstrate the true productivity and flexibility potential of the machine - the XR760 will also feature, for the first time, a new Hardinge direct-drive 4th axis rotary table designed, manufactured and supplied by The Hardinge Workholding Group, Elmira, New York.

Hardinge will be performing live turning demonstrations on the machine.

3 - GX 1000B (Boxway) vertical machining centre - following extensive research amongst existing Bridgeport milling machine users, the GX1000B is a (Boxway) Heidenhain-controlled machine designed for the precision manufacture of large and heavy parts and components.

The machine has a generous 610mm Y-axis travel, is built for heavy-duty milling operations and is equipped with a 13kW (BT 40) 8,000 rev/min spindle (10,000/12,000 rev/min options), 20-position ATC and 30m/min travels on all three axes.

The machine is equipped with thermal compensation as standard.

Other milling highlights include a Hardinge XV 710 3-axis machining centre integrated with a Motoman robot, which demonstrates the extra productivity that can be gained from a standard machine using integrated automation.

* Turning Technology - 'high-end', mid-range and 'entry-level' turning centres will all be exhibited by Hardinge.

1 - RS 42 SP - Super Precision turning centre - is a high-productivity advanced machine designed for 'hard-turning' and 'hard-milling' complex hardened parts in a single set-up.

The machine delivers unrivalled high-precision (5 micron accuracy), said Hardinge to manufacturingtalk.com as well as excellent surface finish (0.2 micron Ra) and superior part roundness (0.38 micron).

The RS 42 Super Precision turning centre has a 42mm bar capacity, 11kW, 6,000 rev/min main collet-ready spindle, heavy-duty linear guideways, rigid Harcrete reinforced cast iron base, a12-station turret top plate and Preci-Flex tooling system.

2 - SR 200 MSY turning centre with gantry loader is a heavy-duty universal chuck and bar turning centre.

Hardinge's SR turning centres are advanced high-technology machines delivering 0.25 micron Ra surface finish, 5 micron accuracy and 1.27 micron part roundness to customers.

The SR 200 machine will be shown with live tooling, sub-spindle, Y-axis and full C-axis on both spindles (main and sub-spindle).

To demonstrate the productivity potential of the machine the SR 200 will be integrated with an Iemca gantry loader for fast and efficient workpiece load and unload.

3 - GS 150S and GS 200 MSY mid-range of its 'GS' turning centres are the latest generation of the popular and successful 'Talent' machines, said Hardinge.

GS-series machines have a rigid one-piece cast iron base, heavy-duty linear guideways and ballscrews, three-jaw chucks, 12-station universal VDI top plate, through tool and headwall coolant and chip conveyor interface.

The two different GS machines exhibited at MACH are as follows.

GS 200 MSY: with live tooling, C-axis, Y-axis and sub-spindle.

GS 150S: with live tooling and C-axis.

4 - SV 200 with automatic bar feeder is a standard 2-axis turning centre.

The SV range of machines provides users with high-quality and high-performance at a competitive price.

SV machines deliver 0.01mm positioning accuracy and 0.005mm repeatable accuracy on X- and Z-axis.

The machine to be shown is equipped with a 4,200 rev/min spindle, 24m/min rapid feeds, and a hydraulically driven 12-station turret with 0.35s tool change, linear guideways and the Siemens 802D SL control.

The machine will also be integrated with an Iemca 'Kid 80' automatic bar feeder.

Hardinge said that it is the ideal productivity solution ifor small-medium production, and frequent work-changeover environments.

* grinding technology - for cylindrical, jig, face, ID/OD grinding technology requirements, Hardinge said it can supply the optimum solution.

1 - Kellenberger - Kellenberger's new universal, cylindrical grinding machine - the Kel-Vita will be demonstrated at MACH.

The Kel-Vita is a compact machine ideally-suited to production environments (medium/large batch series production) and will also feature the GRINDplus IT control.

2 - Hauser S35 - 400 jig grinding machine has a rigid and thermally stable design that provides manufacturers with the ultimate in precision (+/-2 micron positional accuracy in X-, Y- and W-axis).

The machine's CNC (controlling X-, Y-, C-, U- and W-axis) and Hauser's own software cycles increase the machining capabilities of the S35 - 400, and provide users with precision and reliability for numerous grinding operations: planetary, chop, contour, pocket and shoulder grinding.

* Workholding technology - Hardinge's extensive range of workholding products and equipment will be shown in action on the company's four Stands.

These will include a high-performance 4th axis rotary 'direct drive' tables and rotary indexing systems (5C and 16C) and flexible, reliable and ultra-productive collet systems (expanding collets; Swiss-type collets, quick-change collets, power chucks and jaws, etc).

* Hardinge Machine Tools at MACH 2008, NEC, Birmingham, UK, April 21-25, Hall 5, Stands 5448, 5449, 5450 and 5451.