MINOTAUR 3 - 5 AXIS MACHINING CENTRES

The Minotaur combined moving table/moving optic Machining Center is specifically designed
for rapid accurate 3-5 axes laser processing.  With acceleration rates up to 5 m/s2, 
programmed linear speeds of 10 meters per minute in less than 50 milliseconds can be
achieved.

Offered complete with a CO2 laser chosen to suit a customers production requirement the
Minotaur series are unsurpassed as high resolution flexible processing systems.  

MINOTAUR : THE MOVING OPTIC/MOVING TABLE MACHINE

This design concept sometimes termed as a hybrid system, is a three to five axis moving table/moving optic combination machining center based upon a worktable driven in the Y axis and a fixed gantry (bridge) assembly which incorporates the moving optic X Axis.

The moving table base supporting a worktable assembly carrying the workpiece, moves horizontally to form the Y axis movement.  To establish the X axis, a fixed gantry (bridge) arrangement straddles the moving table and contains the X axis slideways which in turn carry the X axis carriage assembly supporting the processing head Z axis arrangement.

The laser beam is directed through a series of moving optics to the processing head.  The Z axis carriage assembly moves horizontally along the fixed beam of the gantry to form the X axis movement.  The Z axis carriage assembly contains the processing head column which is directed vertically to form the Z axis movement.  The processing head is mounted at the bottom of the Z axis column.

With smaller lasers the laser head can sometimes be mounted above the working area upon the fixed gantry.  However more normally the laser is stationed adjacent to the machine base with the output beam being delivered into the work envelope through an external beam delivery arrangement.  The machine and laser head layout can be arranged to suit the customer's floor plan requirement and should allow for laser beam entry from either end of the machine gantry framework.

All machine movements move under simultaneous CNC control and direct the laser beam along the pre-programmed path.  Co-ordination between the laser parameters and system movements are also under continuous CNC control. 

All linear axes are carried by cross roller linear bearings mounted upon hardened precision ground rectangular section steel ways and are protected from damage and debris by robust bellows or covers.  Movement is caused by preloaded precision ball screws with directly mounted brushless AC servo motors.  Positional feedback is achieved by directly coupled closed loop high resolution rotary encoders.

The concept of the hybrid system allows for the materials to be loaded upon a cutting box arrangement located on the table base outside the constraints of the bridge. The cutting box will have a knife bar or tapered pin material support arrangement selected to suit a customer’s specific requirement. 

A process fume and debris extraction arrangement is generally fitted directly to the side or underside of the cutting box assembly. This facilitates the effective removal of debris and fumes from the system by an extraction unit.  The support arrangement of the cutting box allows for the dropping down and removal at a later stage of larger debris, scrap material and small parts.

Dependent upon an individual manufacturers design the operator console is normally mounted upon a flexible swing arm assembly attached to the machine base or is free standing. The console is positioned to allow the operator easy access to all system controls and to observe the workstation area from one position will contain the system CNC controller and monitor together with the laser function controls.

In order to conform to CE regulations European manufacturers are obliged to supply systems complete with a class 1 enclosure.  This has to cover the working area of the system in order to conform to the complete physical and laser safety requirements of the regulations with any access doors being fully interlocked against unauthorized entry into the working area.

Although not normally manufactured with working areas larger than 2.5 x 1.25 meters the hybrid system, in its simplest form, is being utilized more and more where ease of usage, greater flexibility and limited floor space are at a premium.

The further development of the hybrid system is now being driven by the need for higher flexibility combined with more comprehensive ability and greater efficiency.  However most manufacturers are not responding to this need and still produce what is considered to be only a partial solution.

The Minotaur systems produced by NV L. Balliu MTC are recognized to be the most comprehensive range of hybrid systems available today and are regularly engineered to be comprehensive 3, 4 or even 5 axis systems.  Supplied with additional features as pallet tables, sheet load and unload systems the Minotaur is considered to be a complete manufacturing cell.

Such is the versatility of the Minotaur  design that NV L. Balliu MTC has been especially successful using this concept  in the special purpose system area. There are now many varied turnkey examples of this capability installed into dedicated production lines.