At EMO 2025 in Hannover, Makino presented its a500iR with a brand new 60 kW spindle running at 24,000 rpm. This spindle ensures the shortest cycle times when machining structural components made of aluminum for aerospace and in highly demanding semiconductor manufacturing.
The latest machine from Makino's series of horizontal machining centers has been designed with the increasing demands for high-performance 5-axis simultaneous machining in mind. Accuracy, speed, and proven reliability were the focus of the developers for this machine, which combines robust technology with intelligent features, achieving exceptional results across a wide range of materials and applications.
The a500iR has been developed for the highly efficient machining of small to medium-sized complex parts, particularly for applications in aerospace. It uses pallets of 500 x 500 mm and features axis strokes of 900 mm (X-axis), 750 mm (Y-axis), and 800 mm (Z-axis). The exceptional accessibility during machining is largely due to its degrees of freedom with 290° rotation (-110° to +180°) in the B-axis and continuous 360° rotation in the C-axis.
Features
- First-class machining performance: The spindle options cover a wide range of machining tasks and deliver the highest machining performance for a variety of applications:
-Standard spindle: 14,000 rpm, tool holder HSK-A63, power 63/30 kW (S3 15%ED/S1), torque 303/120 Nm (S3 15%ED/S1)
- Optional spindles: 24,000 rpm, tool holder HSK-A63, power 60 kW.
- Machining capabilities: The a500iR enables stable high-speed machining in 5 axes:
- B-axis: -110° to +180° rotation; C-axis: continuous 360° rotation
- Rapid traverse speeds of up to 60,000 mm/min (linear), 16,000 °/min (B-axis), and 36,000 °/min (C-axis)
- Maximum workpiece size: Ø 900 mm, height 600 mm with a weight of up to 400 kg
- Chip disposal and coolant management: The a500iR features an efficient chip and coolant system with a central trough for chip removal, multiple coolant systems (through the spindle, coolant nozzles, shower coolant, terrace and C-axis cooling) as well as a GI-Breaker function that breaks long chips during drilling operations and prevents entanglements on the tool, thereby reducing wear.
- Tool handling: Comprehensive tool handling for the a500iR includes:
- Tool changer as a ring magazine (ATC) for 90 tools (standard) and as a matrix magazine for up to 313 tools (option)
- Optical tool break detection via camera (BTS)
- Coolant recovery during tool change to remove excess coolant
- Ergonomics: For good operability and efficient, ergonomic handling, the pallets are loaded vertically, while setup can be done horizontally; additionally: convenient loading and unloading (pallet height 1100 mm) as well as clamping hydraulics and compressed air connection through the pallet in automatic operation.
- Specification: The footprint of the a500iR is 3540 x 5981 mm with a height of 2989 mm and a weight of 16,000 kg. The machine can optionally be equipped with coolant mist extraction, coolant cooler, 3D tool correction, and other useful functions.
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