Approaching the 2013 Paris Airshow

Plan to visit Handtmann at the Paris Airshow. The German machine manufacturer Handtmann A-Punkt Automation GmbH is specializing in 5-axis HSC/HPC-machining centers for almost 30 years. With four product lines, PBZ profile machining centers, GANTRY high portal machining centers, UBZ universal machining centers, and HBZ horizontal machining centers, Handtmann is covering a wide range of applications in the aerospace industry.

The HBZ product line (5-axis horizontal machining centers) has been specifically designed for facing all the needs of aircraft suppliers in terms of most productive machining of structural parts in particular.

The HBZ AeroCell with pallet sizes from 4m x 2m up to 7m x 2m and meanwhile also 5m x 2.5m and spindle power up to 156kW and 30,000rpm and travel speed of 80/80/80 m/min in X-Y-Z is particularly convincing international customers with its integrated pallet changing system and the high material removal rates over 41kg/min. In addition, the HBZ CompactCell for smaller workpieces on tables on 2m x 1m up to 4m x 1m shows great success with installations at various international aerospace suppliers’ facilities. The customers are predominantly impressed by the high performance (cutting volume up to 7.8 liter in aluminium) and in consequence by the resulting decline in costs per unit, which the compact 5-axis horizontal machining center allows on only a small footprint. Powers are up to 81 kW and 30,000rpm with travel speed 60/40/60 m/min are impressive. Pallet automation on rails allows the noticeable reduction in costly downtimes.

The latest innovation for more productivity in aluminium, steel, and titanium machining of small workpieces on table diameters (rotary-swivel table) of 800mm, 1,200mm, and 1,600mm is the HBZ Trunnion. With this machine, engineers transferred the advantages of 5-axis horizontal machining and all the experience with the horizontal machining centers in aerospace and made them available for smaller workpieces. A wide range of possible spindles offers the customer the flexibility to choose exactly the spindle, which is best fitting to the material to be machined and to attain the best possible productivity. As the machine design is impressively rigid, dynamic and fast machining, with either high torque spindles available up to 1,010Nm or high power spindles with up to 30,000rpm, is possible with the HBZ Trunnion.

Options such as turning and pallet automation complete the innovative machine design. The main advantage of the horizontally positioned spindle is the vertical drop down of chips and coolants. This reduces cycle times, optimizes the workpiece quality, and extends the tool lifetime.

The aerospace industry is the branch Handtmann horizontal machining centers have been designed for, as aircraft manufacturers and respectively aircraft suppliers primarily aim for low costs per piece, unit costs, high output, and best surface quality.