The Biemh brings the latest technology for Spanish users

The machine-tool biennial is co-organised by the Spanish Association of machine tool manufacturers (AFM) and Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC). For six days it will show the latest innovations and developments in machines and technologies of manufacturing in the Basque Fairgrounds. Thanks to a path of progress as exhibition pioneer of monographic character dedicated to the machine tool sector, the Biemh is now the third most important trade fair in Europe in the sector. The results obtained by the call in the previous edition, in 2006, were very positive and were completed, in addition, with an excellent final assessment, according to surveys conducted during the course of the contest, in which both exhibitors and visitors noted positively the organizational aspectstechnical and commercial.

The sectors that will shape the next edition will be those of machine tools (for startup and deformation), other machines (flame cutting and welding, surface treatment), tools for machine tools, parts, components and accessories, automation systems of production, metrology and quality control and services.

This can seen in the good situation of the portfolio of orders for manufacturers of components, machines and software. The increase in the demands of the customers leads to a demand reinforced machine more efficient tools, as well as processes and cutting-edge manufacturing technology.

What could be seen in the last edition of the EMO is valid, sure, to get an idea of what we can see in the Biemh. Machine tools and the tools highlighted in Hanover especially for its high and advanced level of development, especially in the fields of the machining of high-performance, high speed and dry machining. They are more and more manufacturers of machine tools and components that take into account in the construction of its products environmentally friendly operation with the resources and the costs associated with the entire life cycle. The TCO ("Total Cost of Ownership') is a common term in business presentations. We do not appreciate the cost of a machine in itself, that doesn't make sense. Let's look at all the costs associated with a machine over its useful life.

Also growing demand in software products that enable interpret and verify the manufacturing processes optimally. In this way considerably reduces the hourly rate of machine and cannot be ruled out practically collisions. Even smaller businesses can deploy these solutions in a productive way.

In the next few pages you can see the trends that the Biemh will reveal in relation to centres of machining, sheet metal forming and carving of gears.

As regards equipment for drilling and milling and lathes, on which we will inform you more in detail in the next issue of MetalUnivers-Interempresas, the special of the show, although the trend towards automation and machining centers full of milling is, in principle, comparable or similar to the of the lathes, from a technological point of view is a completely different way. While in general applies only a spindle drilling machines and milling, lathes are powered by multiple spindles. The productivity of these automatic lathes of multiple spindles is multiplied in comparison to the Conventional lathes of an only spindle.

A trend that is beginning to look in the market of components or even entire machine tool construction, is the construction and optimization focused on minimum costs in time according to the TCO ("Total Cost of Ownership' - total cost of ownership). Maintenance and upkeep costs arising during the time of operation of machine tools may slightly exceed the purchase price.

In grinders, during the last years of machine tool manufacturers have focused on optimizing own processing, i.e., in the reduction of the main timeline. Today, many are focusing on the reduction of side time.

In the engineering of command and control is carried out fewer innovations in the control interface and more in the lower structures. One of the best known manufacturers of measurement and control systems has already shown how its components here onwards only communicate through digitally Ethernet in real time. This increases the speed of information exchange and contributes to the simplification of the integration of new components in the control.

For its part, the manufacturers of components are motivated to tackle trends, as for example, the saving of energy in the operation, by the demands of their customers.

A topic important in the construction of special machines, are the needs of customers by technologies of processing different within the same machine or for the protection of a wide spectrum of the geometry of the parts. In this case, for example, a machine cycle rotating to perform tasks on lathes and subsequent processing can be a good alternative for machines with multiple spindles CNC. This rotating cycle machine can process a thickness of up to 80 mm diameter bars (optional 100 mm). The team can be processed in addition the back of the pieces in a very short time.

Cost reduction is for manufacturers of centers of rays cutting plasma one of the most important arguments of sale in the competition of laser cutting centres. When the requirement for the accuracy of the cuts is inferior, they are the first choice. There are market solutions that can cut the sheet to a thickness of up to 35 mm. A machine that has a plasma without limitations of rotation cutting head and that adjusts the angle of inclination of the head automatically was presented at the EMO. In this way the contours predefined quickly and with a reduced distance of all the transport trolley can be cut. In addition, these facilities today offer several functions for processing, for example, a head of drilling and a portapeine of threading of 6 stations with a system of automatic tools change. In this way reduces the total machining time.

In the case of the saws also is the tendency to develop the speedup of the machining and availability. However, also address the issue of the emission of noise. A few months ago was presented for the first time a band saw with full fairing, as well as having drives closed for a reduction in noise pollution in the workplace, also offers improved management and more easily accessible. A modern CNC control and a few integrated servoavances of the sawblade, achieves further increase the security of the process of this classical toothache MITRE saw. Gets a decrease in the time of machining by coupling with units of drilling and a partially integrated measurement technique.

Processes of laser and waterjet cutting cover more and more applications in work of court. If you require highly accurate and clean cuts and also different materials (plastic, aluminium, steel, etc.) should be cut, usually used court teams waterjet. A novelty is the machine that is able, by means of a pressure of up to 6,000 bar water and depending on the material to be cut, a greater thickness of material and/or a faster cut speeds. This in turn, contributes to a reduction in the time of production.

A wire EDM machine, until now only in this category was presented at the EMO. The machine has characteristics which until now had always been as a contradiction in the world of the construction of moulds: offers efficiency and maximum accuracy of repetition is accurate to a difference of a thousandth part of one millimeter. Change has a route of transportation of 700 x 500 x 500 mm. Also parts of large volume can be processed in this way. The multifunctional application of this machine for small and large pieces cover a very broad spectrum of applications for electrodes and parts.

In another different area, that of the simulation, trends and new developments of the past few years concerning the simulation of mechanized integrative and the planning of virtual machining, have become truly applicable products. New CAM and NC simulation solutions products help the planner of machining to improve and verify the process of machining with regard to the criteria selected as processing time or the quality of surface.