MAG will be showing off the advanced capabilities of its breakthrough Minimum Quantity Cryogenics (MQC) machining technology at this year's IMTS show in Chicago, September 12-15.
The first-of-its-kind technology, MQC delivers liquid nitrogen at -321 degrees through the spindle, directly to the tip and cutting zone to create a heat sink effect rather than the traditional chip zone cooling with wet coolants.
The result of this innovation, said MAG, is increased process speeds of as much as 60% while milling CGI with carbide and up to four times using PCD (Polycrystaline Diamond) tooling. It also boasts improved lifecycle costs for cutting difficult-to-machine materials by reducing the required number of machines and associated plant infrastructure.
These results have helped the multi-patented technology has recently receive approval by the U.S. government for roughing components for the F35 Lightning II steal fighter.
As an additional advantage, with no coolant mist collection, filtration, wet chips, contaminated workpieces or disposal costs, MQC is eco-friendly. That, combined with the reduced energy consumption do to the lack of pumps, fans and drives usually associated with coolant handling, MQC can be said to be a green technology -- a critical label in today's competitive market.
MQC will be demonstrated at the event by tooling difficult-to-machine metal and composite work pieces on a new MGA 5-axis HMC 1600 as well as on a customer's retrofitted VMS machine.
