Posted to News on 12th Oct 2007, 19:17
EuroMod delivers new price-performance ratio for CNC
Unimatic Engineers is launching the low-cost, high-specification EuroMod CNC machine range, which the company believes will open up CNC machining to a wide array of potential new users.
With prices starting below £7000, EuroMod is a three-axis high-performance servomotor-driven CNC machine suitable for a comprehensive range of duties, such as routing and engraving, drilling and milling, dosing and sign making, prototyping and modelling. It is equally adept at dispensing, laser and water jet cutting, soldering and welding, measuring and verifying, sawing and cutting.
Martin Stevens, MD of Unimatic, says: "What we are offering is a servo driven machine at a stepper price. Servo machines are quicker, smoother, quieter and more accurate than steppers.
"We are able to combine price and performance because EuroMod machines are manufactured in volumes such that efficiency gains are achieved on all fronts. EuroMod represents a sea-change in attitudes to CNC machining; it is no longer an exclusive preserve, but the new benchmark for all machining."
EuroMod machines are ready-to-use CNC systems designed to automate a large number of tasks and applications. Rigid, low-vibration steel and aluminium constructions provide the mechanical basis for the EuroMod units. The 16 x 5mm ball screw drives are high-precision to match the performance of the servomotors.
Stevens adds: "When developing the EuroMod units, the focus was on providing a small footprint, because space-saving is a near-universal requirement by virtually all users." The dimensions are just 800mm, 1100mm and 1510mm high.
Optimised configuration
The electronics of the EuroMod and the servo motors are optimally matched to the mechanics, the power electronics and the control. As a result, the user gets high power, quiet running and reserves of performance. The complete electronics of the EuroMod, including an integral PC, are enclosed in a control box. Operation is through a control panel with keyboard, 10inch display and touchscreen.
EuroMod units are available with or without a protective cover. The versions with cover are equipped with an automatic door opener. The EuroMod gantry section is fixed and the workpiece is moved below this rigid section. As a consequence, this design is particularly suitable for precision machine cutting and for multi-axis machining. Functional accessories are also available for the EuroMod units.
Options include a work spindle with frequency converter for high-speed operations such as drilling and milling, a tool changer for programmable multi-task operations, a cooling/spraying device and fume extraction system, vacuum clamping system, CNC joystick and 17inch CNC control panel.
Stevens concludes: "Additionally a rotary axis and swivelling unit can be provided as fourth- and fifth-axis capabilities. Thus EuroMod covers a range of capabilities from relatively simple to extremely sophisticated, with high performance guaranteed throughout the range."
