FLORENCE, Ky., November 1 2021 – At DISCOVER 2021, Mazak Corporation featured the HCN-6800 NEO Horizontal Machining Center paired with the PALLETECH modular palletized manufacturing system. With the power and versatility needed for productive and precise large-part machining, the HCN-6800 NEO gains even more flexibility and cost-efficiency when used as part of a PALLETECH production cell.
The next-generation NEO version of Mazak’s popular HCN-6800 takes the previous generation’s performance to a new level of efficiency and ease of use through numerous upgrades. NEO machines sport a fully redesigned enclosures, best-in-class standard and optional equipment and improvements throughout to provide fast, optimal solutions for an even-wider range of part-production applications.
Mazak made significant upgrades to the HCN 6800’s spindle, table and magazine including a new standard 43-tool drum-type magazine that reduces tool exchange times. For ease of maintenance, the machine incorporates hydraulic/motorized pallet changer mechanisms and an easier-to-access maintenance panel. A faster servo-driven ATC door design now also accommodates longer tools. As an option, Mazak offers a direct-drive motor table that ensures the fastest indexing time in its class and rotary scales for high-accuracy positioning.
The HCN-6800 NEO has a special integral spindle/motor headstock that minimizes vibration and heat generation. It comes with a robust 10,000-rpm CAT 50 spindle that delivers 50 hp of metal removal power in a variety of materials, from steels to nonferrous metals. Optional high-speed, high-torque spindles are also available to effectively tackle a wide range of application requirements.
For positioning speed, even at high feedrates, the machine’s travels – measuring 41.34" in X, 35.43" in Y and 38.58" in Z – rapid traverse at 2,362 ipm per axis at 0.8G acceleration. Smooth high-gain servo and high-power AC servomotors allow for fast, vibration-free acceleration and deceleration rates.
The NC rotary table on the HCN-6800 NEO rotates 90 degrees in 1.9 seconds and features 0.001-degree minimum increments for precise 4-axis indexing, while the machine’s standard spindle allows for 4-axis contour machining. The machine accommodates workpiece sizes up to 41.34" in diameter and 51.18" high.
The machine’s automatic tool changer (ATC) stores 43 tools with maximum tool diameters of 10.24". The cam-driven ATC also reduces non-cut times via fast, reliable 4.2-second chip-to-chip tool change cycles.
The machine’s highly optimized MAZATROL SmoothG CNC makes it easy to generate programs for processing large complex parts through off-centerline machining as well as angled drilling, milling and tapping. Furthermore, the Orbit Machining function within the CNC enables the HCN-6800 NEO to turn features on large, complex-shaped parts such as valves and manifolds while they remain in a stationary position.
The HCN-6800 NEO comes standard with a two-pallet changer that allows an operator to load and unload parts on one pallet, while the second pallet is active inside the machine. The machine’s pallet size is 24.8" x 24.8" with a maximum load capacity of 3,307 pounds. The two-pallet changer makes it possible for the HCN-6800 NEO to integrate with Mazak’s modular, pre-engineered PALLECH System for continuous, high-volume parts production.
PALLETECH starter systems come with six, 12 or 18 pallet stockers. The system’s modular design makes it easy to add pallets, loading stations and part wash stations at anytime. Overall, a PALLETECH System can accommodate up to 16 Mazak machines, six to 240 pallets and as many as eight loading stations for manufacturers requiring a fully automated cell for lights-out operation.