Dynamic and precise machining at the same time

After all, they make it possible to machine products on five surfaces in one setup. But to find out whether these machines are also on the mark for your products, it is best to call on a partner with expertise and a broad portfolio. Buhlmann has been setting itself up as a supplier close to its customers for more than seventy years. With Fehlmann machines, it can provide the right solution for every machinist, with or without automation.

Previously, most milling machines had three axes: X, Y and Z. Products could then only be machined from above. Today, more and more five-axis milling machines are popping up in production environments. "They can machine products on five sides in one fixture. Higher speeds, shorter cycle times, tighter tolerances and better accuracy are the result. In the next step, this can even be done simultaneously, which has a positive impact on, again, accuracy and surface roughness and allows more complex shaping to be pursued," says Dirk Geleleens sales manager Machine Tools at Buhlmann. For many metalworkers, these are undeniable advantages. The share of five-axis machines is therefore clearly on the rise. Buhlmann also has the necessary solutions to guide metalworkers into the world of five-axis machining.

If it has to be reliable and accurate

In doing so, Buhlmann resolutely opts for the craftsmanship of Fehlmann. With Swiss precision, this family business has been building reliable and competent machines for metal cutting since 1931. Also in the field of automation, the company thinks along with the customer to arrive at the right solution. "Machine development at Fehlmann invariably starts from practice. One question takes center stage: how can we help our customers manufacture their pieces more efficiently? Robustness, speed of execution, reliable, precise operation under all conditions are therefore not hollow concepts at the headquarters in Seon. In fact, I think the downtime for our customers is as good as zero. Once installed, the customer easily enjoys 20 to 25 years of worry-free production on the shop floor. Provided, of course, that the necessary maintenance is carried out. But the machines are built in such a way that the customer can check and adjust them himself. And for service they can count on us, specialists in our own country who speak the same language."  

Intelligent drive combines speed and precision

The VERSA 645 series is a fine example of what Fehlmann's five-axis machines stand for. "It enables workpieces to be machined in a highly dynamic manner with five axes (working simultaneously or not) with maximum precision. The intelligent drive concept eliminates the need to make trade-offs between speed and precision. The linear drives allow working at the highest accelerations without having to compromise on precision. The compact, accessible design also allows for easy automation." A second Fehlmann five-axle machine that can be mentioned here is the new VERSA 945, which guarantees the highest level of dynamics and accuracy. "This machine can precisely machine workpieces up to 650 mm in diameter in five planes. It is the largest variant within the VERSA range and is designed for maximum stability due to its cast iron structure. The moving parts are also made of cast iron for perfect dynamic precision."

Conventional or CNC-controlled

A striking series of three-axis machines that Geleleens likes to highlight is the Picomax 56 and 56 L. "This series owes its success mainly to the fact that the milling machine can be used both as a CNC-controlled machine and conventionally, including controllable levers for X, Y and Z. This means that the machine can be used efficiently even after a very short set-up time without programming knowledge by any craftsman. By the way, the Picomax 56 can also control a fourth axis with possible counterpoint via mounting on the existing table. The L stands for a version with an even larger clamping area (1,400 x 480 mm) on an extended table (X-travel of 800 mm). This also allows very long workpieces to be machined in one step, without changing the clamping," Geleleens concludes.