The horizontal machining centre HBZ Trunnion is performing 5-axis machining of aluminium, steel and titanium on table diameters of 800, 1200 and 1600 mm. As a production machine, it is especially suitable for automotive, die- and mould, tool making, machine construction, energy technology and aerospace. Whenever precision, quality and productivity are required; the HBZ Trunnion is the perfect solution.

Introducing the new HBZ Trunnion series, Handtmann is once more expanding its product portfolio with respect to smaller workpiece sizes and presents the ®evolution in High Performance Cutting. "The "Power Cube" combines highest power on small footprint, high forces and an extremely rigid construction with a compact design and therefore provides productivity and process reliability," states Andreas Podiebrad, President of Handtmann A-Punkt Automation GmbH. After the HBZ AeroCell and HBZ CompactCell have successfully been established in the international market, Handtmann is expanding its competence in horizontal machining with the new HBZ Trunnion series.

Horizontal machining with high performance spindles

The 5-axis machining centre with rotary-swivel-table for more flexibility in machining is clearly designed for power. Using high power spindles (max. 125 kW), steel and titanium can be machined efficiently with high torque (up to 390 Nm) and aluminium with high speed (max. 30,000 rpm). The machine concept allows the necessary flexibility in selecting different spindles and offers the suitable solution for any requirement. The respectively high power allows increase in productivity of up to 30% and a significant decrease of costs per piece and machining times. Horizontal machining gives considerable advantage and provides an optimized process in mill-turn-applications when using high performance spindles. Due to the horizontally positioned spindle, chips and coolants directly drop down from the workpiece and don't stay in deep pockets. Hence, the machining process' quality is improved from what better workpiece surfaces and longer tool life times are resulting. Another advantage of horizontal machining is the minimized heat that is influencing the workpiece and thus provides better thermal stability. Next to precision, higher productivity and economics, the horizontal concept leads to additional savings due to reduced cleaning efforts for the machine operator. HBZ Trunnion workpieces are being clamped horizontally on the rotary-swivel-table, whereupon loading is flexibly possible from above and from the front. When loaded, the table with diameters of 800, 1200 respectively 1600 mm is swivelled into the vertical position. The swivel range is defined between +30° and -120°, the interference contour is accordingly diameter 850, 1250 or 1650 mm.

Extremely precise during highly dynamic machining

The HBZ Trunnion series is especially designed for extremely dynamic machining. Thus, the extremely rigid machine's constructional design allows a 3-point-floor mounting for better workpiece quality. A double drive system in the X-axis with upper and lower guide ways, workpiece independent linear axes, direct measuring systems and the free of backlash and wear torque drive of A- and C-axis, as well as the machine stiffness and the thermosymetric designed base frame improve the workpiece accuracies. Precision in highly dynamic machining operations is guaranteed also in the long run due to the stiff machine design. Standard accelerations of 6 m/s2 and standard travel speed of 45 m/min can be increased with the optional dynamic-package and then reach 10 m/s2 and 60 m/min.

Flexible production machine with intelligent chip management

The HBZ Trunnion chip management is perfectly designed for horizontal machining with high power spindles. Chips that are cut from the workpiece are immediately transported out of the machine room via scraper and/or screw type chip conveyors. With various possibilities in chip evacuation and installation of the chip conveyor, the HBZ Trunnion offers flexible alternatives to optimally fit into the relevant production processes.

As a production machine, the HBZ Trunnion can optimally be integrated into processes and be automated according to applications and production conditions. As a result, manpower is reduced; machining times and costs per piece are being decreased. Handtmann offers various ways to automate a single machine or to combine several machines with a joint automation. That's how, for example, a universal interface for palette changer and a rack magazine for palettes allow combining several machines with each other. Loading of the HBZ Trunnion's table (manually or via robot) is always possible from the front and from above. Even after installing a non-automated machine, the possibility to retrofit automation is still given. Flexibility in production and high machine productivity are of top priority.

Flexibility and speed are also represented in the modular tool concept where various stages provide a customer oriented conception. The standard chain type tool magazine is equipped with 40 slots. Optionally, 60 slots are available. Furthermore, a rack type tool magazine with several hundred slots can be installed. A double gripper enables quick chip to chip tool change times of 3 seconds so that short cycle times and thus higher productivity are given. The tool magazine can be loaded during production which brings downtimes to a minimum.

Best ergonomicsGood accessibility to the tool magazine is only one of the HBZ Trunnion series' advantages. Handtmann provides safe processes as the machine operator has good insights into the machine room from the front and from the side. The good insight is still given when automating the horizontal machining centre. The workpiece is clamped ergonomically on the horizontally positioned table, whereupon best accessibility from the front and from above is guaranteed due to the large sliding door.

The added-value for production processes

The 5-axis horizontal machining centre combines high power on interference contours of diameter 850, 1250, 1650 mm with only a small footprint requirement. Due to the 3-point-floor mounting and no need for special foundation, the machine is easy to move what means an increased flexibility in the production building. The HBZ Trunnion series is suitable for various material requirements and workpiece sizes. Hence, various applications in the production can be covered by one machine type only as the HBZ Trunnion series includes different design sizes (80, 120, 160).

"It is the sum of all advantages that generates the added-value", Andreas Podiebrad says about the new machine concept.