The S56 vertical machining center is Makino's affordable die/mold solution, which blends high-performance machining capabilities with an attractive feature and pricing package to meet the needs of all sizes of shops. It is dedicated to helping manufacturers reduce the cost of their operations.

The Makino S56 incorporates features that are attractive to technology savvy mold shops. The S56 utilizes a 40 taper, 13,000-rpm jacket-cooled spindle with the stiffness and rigidity required for hard metal cutting applications and the speed necessary to provide high surface quality for demanding die and mold applications. As an option, the S56 can be equipped with a 20,000-rpm core-cooled spindle, featuring Makino's patented spindle technology and under-race lubrication.

Heavy cast construction and an axis configuration with no overhangs ensures high machine rigidity resulting in outstanding accuracy over the full range of travel. It is capable of maintaining positioning accuracies to within +/- 0.0001 inch (0.003 mm) and repeatability of +/- 0.00008 inch (0.002 mm).

To reduce setups and maximize machine utilization, the S56 is equipped with a 20-tool magazine and automatic tool changer (ATC). The ATC has a quick tool-to-tool exchange time of 1.2 seconds. Linear motion guides on X-, Y- and Z-axes provide the rigidity crucial for superb surface finishes and provide rapid traverse and cutting feed rates of 1,575 ipm (40,000 mm/min). The table-working surface is 40 x 20 inches (1,000 x 500 mm). In addition, the axes travel area is 36 x 20 x 18 inches (900 x 500 x 450 mm).

The S56 includes Makino's proprietary, next generation Super Geometric Intelligence (SGI.3) servo control providing exceptionally smooth machined surfaces—even in high-feedrate machining of complex, 3-D shapes involving continuous tiny blocks of NC data. This feature helps provide the lowest cycle times achievable by reducing machining cycle times on molds, complex cavities and cores by as much as 40 percent when compared to most other control technologies.

The machine's footprint is a compact 98 inches wide x 106 inches deep (2,497 x 2,690 mm) and is designed for easy maintenance access around the entire perimeter. Other features include an ergonomic swing operator-control panel, fully enclosed chip and splash shield, comfortable work table height, easy access to the work zone, air blow and an air dryer unit.

The Makino S56 VMC provides outstanding machine rigidity, proven high speed machining capability, superb accuracies and superior performance for both the small and large die and mold shop.

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