Introduced to the UK is a family of new 5-axis CNC machining centres from Nottingham-based, CMS UK, part of the Italian worldwide group specializing in solutions for machining all kinds of non ferrous materials. Typical applications include composites, carbon fibre, model block, aluminum etc, as used in many manufacturing industries including aerospace, motor sport, automotive, marine, rail transport, construction and buildings. * linear drives - the standard Antares 5-axis CNC machining centre and its range of larger format Ares companions are now also offered with optional linear motor drives to X and Y axes for those seeking the very latest in production technology.

The Antares provides strokes of 2600 x 1500 x 1200mm while the larger Ares has three standard size options and can machine components requiring strokes of up to 6000 x 2600 x 1200mm.

The larger Ares machines, utilising a form of portal construction, are available in six different variants and permit the physical separation of the load/unload area from the cutting zone so that both operations can be carried out in tandem, thereby achieving maximum machine utilization.

* Design philosophy - according to CMS UK general manager, Toni Nagiel, the Ares/Antares concept deliberately tends towards a degree of 'over-engineering' in order to provide such a high degree of robustness, reliability and accuracy that the machines can be used with confidence for a wider range of applications than might previously have been envisaged.

This confidence in their capabilities is, he says, is being borne out by their increasing use in the high-tech industries.

* Aerospace - similarly, the materials regularly machined now extend through the more familiar mould, model and pattern-making, comprising wood, aluminum, epoxy paste and polyurethane to include structural light alloys and carbon fibre components as used, for example, in aircraft production.

* Pneumatic brake - one result of this design philosophy is to afford a far higher degree of stiffness to the 5-axis cutting head than is normally associated with machines of this type.

This useful attribute is further enhanced by the inclusion of a pneumatic brake that can be programmed to clamp the B- and C-axes during operations that do not require fully active 5-axis interpolation.

The PX5 universal head, with all five axes acting under simultaneous remote control from a GE-Fanuc 18i MB5 CNC system has, in addition to the three basic axes, a fourth axis that rotates around the vertical and a fifth that inclines the spindle in the vertical plane.

The highly specified NC control comes complete with PC Office integrated in the electrical cabinet.

* High speed - drawing on the parent company's 35 years of experience, a particularly strong spindle shaft, made in-house, is mounted on two pairs of pre-loaded bearings - ceramic type for the front pair and steel for the rear pair.

This high-speed spindle (24,000 rev/min max 12kW or 27,000 rev/min maximum 6kW) is liquid cooled.

Fast positioning speeds of 70-80m/min are achieved along with acceleration rates of up to 3.0m/s2.

Automatic tool changing is linked to a tool-holder magazine located on the front face of the traverse and has an eight-tool magazine as standard or a 16-tool option.

According to CMS, the combination of a very high performance, powerful electro spindle and the machine rigidity assured by the mobile bridge-type construction, offer users 'unmatched quality on a wide range of materials'.