b'\x1b\x1a\x19 \x1f\x18\x1d\x17\x16Machine TechnologyGUNNING FOR DEEP HOLESBy William Leventon mm while the three two-spindleFor efficient part processing, the models in the series can drill holescompact machines can fit in close to G uns arent the only metal prod- up to 12 mm (0.47"), 20 mm (0.79")an existing machining center, lathe ucts that require holes withand 32 mm (1.26") in diameter. or Swiss-style machine. Their size high depth-to-diameter ratios. SoThe single main-spindle servomo- also saves valuable floor space and the latest generation of UNE se- tor delivers enough horsepower formakes it easier to relocate them if ries gundrilling machines also cantwo-spindle machines. When pow- necessary.help manufacturers in the automo- ered in single-spindle mode, how- Tosimplifyintegrationintoa tive, medical, energy, defense andever, Unisig points out that thesemanufacturing cell, all UNE models aerospace industries hit productionmachines can produce larger-diam- are robot-ready. The robot-ready targets. eter holes, allowing shops to addpackage usually includes Ethernet Made by Unisig in Menomoneebusiness without adding a machine. communication capability that al-Falls,Wisconsin,UNEseriesFor higher precision, all UNElows messages to be passed back and forth between the machine and robot. The package also contains an automatic door that opens in re-sponse to a signal from a robot.Even in manufacturing settings without a robot, the automatic door can be beneficial. For one thing, Fettig said, the automation elimi-nates the task of opening and clos-ing a machine door, which fatigues operators who do it hundreds of times a day.Additionally, a possibly sur-prising advantage of an auto-matic door is that it can give a big boost to throughput.In Unisigs production divi-sion, we had a (long) history Working with a machining center, lathe or Swiss-styleof running the same job over machine, UNE series gundrilling machines produce holesand over with manual opera-with high depth-to-diameter ratios. Unisig tion, Fettig said. But when we put in the automatic door, we saw machines are billed as a good fitbases are optimized using finitea 17% jump in productivity.for high-volume/low-mix or low-vol- element analysis and machined onThat was because at the end of ume/high-mix manufacturing en- five sides in a single setup. At cus- a cycle, there had been a delay in vironments. With five models builttomer sites, no underlying founda- opening the door when operators from two frame sizes, the UNE seriestion work is required, which simpli- responded to a light signal. How-can drill hole diameters from 1.4 mmfies installation. ever, the opening of the automatic to 40 mm (0.06" to 1.57") and depthsThe stiffness of the bed is suchdoor triggered prompt action by up to 3,000 mm (118"). Two single- that (the machines) dont take anyoperators.spindle models offer maximum holestrength from the foundation, saidThe automatic door (opening) diameters of 25 mm (0.98") and 40CEO Anthony Fettig. is a physical thing happening that 8SEPTEMBER 2021 MachineTech.indd 8 8/17/21 11:35 AM'