Double Column VMC Designed With Large Mold Machining in Mind

Kitamura Machinery of USA Inc. presents moldmakers with the Bridgecenter-6G high-precision, double column vertical machining center (VMC), with an extra-long Y-axis travel of 1,095 mm (43.1") in combination with a large 1,530 mm (60.2") X-axis travel taking up only approximately 136.6" × 176.1" (W×D) of floor space. The company offers #40 or #50 taper spindle options to meet flexibility and versatility from the heavy-duty process of cutting molds to the high-speed, high-accuracy cutting requirements for high-precision, intricate parts. Both configurations offer a positioning accuracy of 0.000078"/full stroke and repeatability of 0.000039". The Bridgecenter-6G is ideal for large, long parts that require a wider machining area, most often associated with the mold and die, aerospace and defense industries. 

The machine’s highly rigid double column design enables a reduction in fixturing and the setup of parts that would otherwise generally require more than one machine to complete, limiting the need for operator intervention. In addition, the Bridgecenter-6G offers a heavy-duty table load capacity of 6,600 Ibs within its 900 mm (35.4") × 1,800 mm (70.9") working area for additional design freedom when it comes to larger molds.

The deflection-free, ground-hardened solid box way construction of the Bridgecenter-6G incorporates a patented triangular slanted crossrail where the spindle is positioned closer to the Z-axis slideway, offering increased thermal stability over X-axis travel. The even distribution of headstock weight during heavy cutting delivers high accuracy and surface finishes. 

The Bridgecenter-6G offers the versatility of a #40 taper, a 20,000-rpm, four-step geared, dual-contact spindle for fine finish capabilities at higher speeds, and a #50 taper 12,000-rpm, four-step, gear-driven, dual-contact spindle offering a max output torque of 432.2 ft-lbs with fine finish capabilities. 

Notably, Kitamura’s Arumatik-Mi control offers user-friendly features such as on-demand “help” guidance, visual work setting, maintenance support functions and a 19" swivel color LCD to easily guide the user in a customizable control environment.