Another Stellar IMTS for Mazak and Manufacturing
According to Dan Janka, President of Mazak Corporation, IMTS 2024 exceeded expectations despite economic headwinds. He elaborated saying that manufacturers of all sizes, representing all vertical industries, came to Chicago ready to discover new technology and manufacturing solutions that would enable greater productivity, automation and profitability, and the show did not disappoint.
At the Mazak booth, the focus for IMTS 2024 was to help manufacturers Learn More, Do More and Make More, and Dan said that the company certainly surpassed its goals for the event. It did so with innovative technology demonstrated in four key action areas – Shop Solutions, High-Production, Advanced Machining and Multi-Tasking Action Areas – that will help shops of all sizes capitalize on opportunities and overcome manufacturing challenges ranging from the shortage of skilled labor to the need for increased production demands.
The Shop Solutions Action Area featured two of the most recent additions to the Mazak Ez Series. Those were the VC-Ez 20X Vertical Machining Center and the QT-Ez 8MY Multi-Tasking CNC Turning Center. The VC-Ez 20X offers cost-effective 5-axis machining, while the QT-Ez 8MY provides rotary tooling with a 12-position bolt-on drum turret and Y-axis off-centerline machining for Multi-Tasking processing in a single setup.
In the High-Production Action Area, the HQR 200/3 NEO took center stage as the first Multi-Tasking machine platform in our next generation NEO Series. The machine sports two spindles and three turrets – two upper and one lower – for unequaled DONE IN ONE® part processing. That same area also showcased the latest Kentucky-designed and built SYNCREX 12/8 eight-axis Swiss-Type Production Turning Machine that handles a maximum turning diameter of 0.4724".
Our Advanced Machining Action Area featured the HCN-4000 NEO Horizontal Machining Center and our full five-axis VARIAXIS i-700 NEO Vertical Machining Center. Boasting the largest X, Y, and Z-axis stroke and workpiece size in its class, the HCN-4000 NEO demonstrated how shops can achieve maximum productivity with virtually any type of material. The machine was demonstrated with a High Rise PALLETECH system for automated pallet handling. As a next generation Mazak, the VARIAXIS i-700 NEO showed its advanced multi-surface, five-axis machining capability for parts with complex profiled surfaces.
Slashing setup times with single-cycle part processing was the focus in the Multi-Tasking Action Area. The Multi-Tasking QTE-100 MSY CNC Turning Center with a gantry loader provided an exceptional option to achieve value and performance when a shop’s square footage is limited. The QTE-100 MSY can process a wide variety of parts, and for additional Multi-Tasking performance, the machine features a +/- 2.0" of off-center milling. Also in the area was the INTEGREX i-500 Multi-Tasking Machine. It combines the capabilities of a high-powered turning center with those of a full-function machining center.
Among the many technological debuts at the show, we unveiled our new SmartBox 2.0 and Ez LOADER automation solution. Both of which delivered digital and automated opportunities for IMTS attendees to do more and make more.
The new Mazak SmartBox 2.0 takes safe and secure machine connectivity to the next level. The comprehensive device integrates advanced communication protocols and edge computing for enhanced productivity and security, ensuring safe data export from machines to factory networks.
We built on our original SmartBox digital integration technology to pack this latest version with several new features and heightened connectivity. The new SmartBox 2.0 introduces MQTT and OPC communication protocols, which significantly improve data exchange and interoperability with a broad range of industrial systems.
Our latest SmartBox version also includes an industrial-grade edge compute PC as standard, advancing its capabilities for machine monitoring and analysis while incorporating advanced cybersecurity protection. SmartBox 2.0 leverages MTConnect® technology to deliver real-time manufacturing data, allowing shops to optimize operations, boost efficiency and quickly adapt to changing market conditions.
For processing small to medium-sized parts, our new Ez LOADER for automated DONE IN ONE® processing is the key to overcoming shortages in skilled labor and boosting production output. We developed the Ez LOADER as a stand-alone, plug-and-play cobot that uses a pallet, a programmable logic controller and all necessary equipment for hassle-free machine integration.
The Ez LOADER as well as all the other technology we showcased at this year’s IMTS underscores Mazak’s ongoing commitment to innovation in machine tools, automation and digital solutions. All of which we develop specifically to help today’s manufacturers do more and make more.
To watch all the Mazak IMTS technology demonstrations, we invite you to visit Mazak TV.
ABOUT MAZAK CORPORATION
Mazak Corporation is a leader in the design and manufacture of productive machine tool solutions. Committed to being a partner to customers with innovative technology, its world-class facility in Florence, Kentucky produces over 70 models of turning centers, Multi-Tasking machines and vertical machining centers, including 5-axis models, Hybrid Additive processing machines and Swiss Turning Machines. Continuously investing in manufacturing technology allows the Mazak iSMART Factory™ to be the most advanced and efficient in the industry, providing high-quality and reliable products. Mazak maintains eight Technology Centers across North America to provide local hands-on applications, service and sales support to customers. For more information on Mazak's products and solutions, visit www.mazakusa.com or follow us on social media.