Hartford vertical machining centre display focuses on advances in control technology and automation

Two of the five vertical machines being displayed by Hartford incorporate technological features that represent significant advances for the Taiwan-based vertical machining centre manufacturer, according to exclusive UK and Ireland distributor, T W Ward CNC Machinery (Ward CNC).

The TGV-1612 will be shown with the latest (fourth) version of Hartford's world renowned Hartrol Plus control technology, and the S-Plus Production Center will be enhanced by Robocell robot handling.

With a table of 1,800 mm by 1,300 mm able to accommodate loads of 4,000 kgs, the gantry-type TGV-1612 has X, Y and Z axis travels of 1,600 mm, 1,200 mm and 700 mm, respectively, plus 30 m/min rapid traverse rates.

The machine's new Hartrol Plus system now includes Smartcenter functionality and multiple Apps, all designed to improve operation – including a manufacturing executive system that allows production status monitoring via portable devices – to complement the software's established i-Diagnosis, i-Compensation, i-Balance and i-Protection functionality.

Robocell automation - Hartford's latest demonstration of its continuing adoption of Industry 4.0 initiatives – will be shown on the S-Plus Production Center. The S-Plus 10 model, for example, has a working surface of 1,150 mm by 520 mm for loads up to 700 kgs, and its X, Y and Z axes (of 1,020 mm, 520 mm and 550 mm, respectively) are complemented by rapids of 30 m/min (X and Y) and 24 m/min in Z.

These capabilities, and those offered by the standard 24-tool ATC (optionally 30-tool), are further enhanced by the use of Robocell automatic parts handling that permits unmanned, lights-out working.

Three other machines will be on the stand – the 5A65E and LG-1000 plus the five-axis 5BC that is specifically targeted at aerospace components. This has a working surface of 4,000 mm by 1,800 mm for 12,000 kgs loads and its travels in X, Y and Z of 4,000 mm, 2,900 mm and 1,000 mm, respectively, are complemented by rapid traverse rates of 20, 18 and 16 m/min in X, Y and Z, respectively.