91ÊÓƵ

Published

Rethinking the 30-Taper Drilling and Tapping Machine

 By enhancing milling capability in a compact, high-speed vertical machining center, DMG/Mori Seiki has redefined the role of the 30-taper machine in high-production applications.

Mark Albert
Mark Albert
Editor Emeritus, Modern Machine Shop

Share

Leaders-In background
CNC Engineering, Inc.
VISIT SHOWROOM

CNC Engineering, Inc.

CNC Engineering, Inc. specializes in enhancing CNC machine tools to boost manufacturing productivity. Our key services include: - CNC Retrofits a...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
Heidenhain Corporation
VISIT SHOWROOM

Heidenhain Corporation

HEIDENHAIN is a world-leading provider of encoders, machine controls, touch probes, digital readouts and metrology solutions—empowering engineer...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
SMW Autoblok Corporation
VISIT SHOWROOM

SMW Autoblok Corporation

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
T J Davies, Co., Inc.
VISIT SHOWROOM

T J Davies, Co., Inc.

Since 1965 we have been manufacturing precision metal products in the United States. We are a veteran-founded, woman-led business dedicated to mak...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions
VISIT SHOWROOM

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
QualiChem Inc.
VISIT SHOWROOM

QualiChem Inc.

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
Mikron Corp.
VISIT SHOWROOM

Mikron Corp.

Mikron Machining is the leading partner for high performance machining systems to manufacture complex and precise metal components in high volumes....READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More
All World Machinery Supply
VISIT SHOWROOM

All World Machinery Supply

All World Machinery Supply is your one-stop shop for machine tool solutions. Machine Tool Spare Parts | Repair Services | Custom Machine Tool Accesso...READ MORE

Featured Content
View More
Featured Videos
View More

 

By enhancing milling capability in a compact, high-speed vertical machining center, DMG/Mori Seiki has redefined the role of the 30-taper machine in high-production applications. The company’s MillTap 700 features an unusually powerful spindle drive and high rapid traverse rates for a 30-taper production machine. Most 30-taper machines are designed for high speed drilling and tapping of aluminum or mild steel components in high volumes for the automotive and consumer electronics industries. Milling operations on these machines are often limited by low spindle torque and light-duty drives on the X and Y axes. However, advances in cutting tools, such as lightweight, balanced facemills, have enabled some milling to be incorporated for more complete processing of components.
 
The MillTap 700, in contrast, is designed to handle substantial milling duties in addition to the high-speed drilling and tapping of holes. For this reason, the company says, the machine’s C-frame configuration and triangular bed provide greater mass than typical designs, thus improving rigidity for facing and pocketing routines. Likewise, the high-torque spindle motor is rated at 33.3 hp (25 kW) to support these operations. Top spindle speed is 10,000 rpm (or 25,000 rpm, as an option).
 
In other aspects, this machine is clearly intended to fill the niche normally occupied by drill/tap machines for high-speed, high-volume production. For example, feed rates as high as 2,300 ipm (60 m/min.) and acceleration rates as high as 1.6 G characterize its dynamic performance. The 65 × 92-inch footprint is sized for the tight space allocations in production plants. Despite this compactness, the work area measures 27.6 inches (700 mm) in the X axis and 16.5 inches (420 mm) in the Y axis, with maximum Z-axis height of 15 inches (380 mm). Workpieces can be as heavy as 400 kg (880 lbs). Also notable is the fact that the worktable moves only in the X axis, whereas the spindle head moves in the Y and Z axes, thus eliminating the need for moving way covers required by cross-table designs. This improves chip flow and keeps the machine narrower at the front without restricting work capacity or accessibility. 
 
Perhaps the most innovative feature of the machine is the toolchanger concept. The complete drive of the tool magazine is integrated into the spindle head. In operation, the rotary drum of the toolchanger tips in and out vertically to deliver tools to the spindle. This economy of motion achieves a chip-to-chip time of 1.5 seconds, the company says. The toolchanger holds 15 tools (a 25-tool design is optional).
 
The company is promoting the machine’s built-in energy management system, because production plants operating on a thin margin are becoming more sensitive to energy-related costs. The high-efficiency CNC unit and drive technology are said to reduce energy consumption by as much as 30 percent compared to machines from other builders.
 
Finally, this machine has the significance of being the first model designed as a joint effort of DMG and Mori Seiki engineers, who combined market research and customer input from both Germany and Japan. Production will be split between factories in Europe and Japan.
 

Related Content

Heule Cutting Tool Provides Chatter-Free Countersinks
Holemaking

Heule Cutting Tool Provides Chatter-Free Countersinks

PMTS 2025: GH-K tooling is well suited for conventional milling of chamfers around the perimeter of larger holes or entire parts.

Read More
Custom PCD Tools Extend Shop’s Tool Life Upward of Ten Times
Holemaking

Custom PCD Tools Extend Shop’s Tool Life Upward of Ten Times

Adopting PCD tooling has extended FT Precision’s tool life from days to months — and the test drill is still going strong.

Read More
Finding the Right Tools for a Turning Shop
Holemaking

Finding the Right Tools for a Turning Shop

Xcelicut is a startup shop that has grown thanks to the right machines, cutting tools, grants and other resources.

Read More
Heule Spot Facing, Counterboring Tool Provides Flexible Machining
Holemaking

Heule Spot Facing, Counterboring Tool Provides Flexible Machining

The Solo L tooling system for spot facing and counterboring is well suited for a wide range machining applications.

Read More

Read Next

AMRs Are Moving Into Manufacturing: 4 Considerations for Implementation
Automation

AMRs Are Moving Into Manufacturing: 4 Considerations for Implementation

AMRs can provide a flexible, easy-to-use automation platform so long as manufacturers choose a suitable task and prepare their facilities.

Read More
Machine Shop MBA
Basics

Machine Shop MBA

  Making Chips and Modern Machine Shop are teaming up for a new podcast series called Machine Shop MBA—designed to help manufacturers measure their success against the industry’s best. Through the lens of the Top Shops benchmarking program, the series explores the KPIs that set high-performing shops apart, from machine utilization and first-pass yield to employee engagement and revenue per employee.  

Read More