Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG, the midsize machine tool manufacturing company from Gosheim, Germany, has accelerated the pace of its innovation to respond to the enormous challenges faced by users currently and in the future. Accordingly, Hermle AG is not only presenting, in the form of the new CNC 5-axis high-performance machining centre C 42 U dynamic, a practically oriented addition to the C series, which has been successful worldwide; the development engineers have also turned their power to creating significant added value for users. The best example of this is the further development of the CNC 5-axis high-performance C 50 U dynamic machining center with an MT version (MT stands for Mill/Turn) which features a fully integrated rotary table. This machining center allows for challenging milling and rotational machining in one clamping. The C 42 U dynamic machining center which has just been introduced, also benefits from this innovation. It is also available immediately as a C 42 U MT dynamic in the Mill/Turn version.

With its presentation of the completely redesigned, all-purpose 5-axis CNC high-performance C 42 U dynamic machining center, Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG, the specialist for precision machining centers, continues the success story of the C series with universal and 5-axis machining centers. Featuring the proven gantry design with modifications, the C 42 U dynamic machining center is an optimum addition to the C-series with types C 20, C 30, C 40 and C 50. With traverse paths of X-Y-Z 800/800/550 mm optimally adjusted to the maximum tool size and consistently designed for 5-axis applications, the C 42 U dynamic represents the ideal machining system for applications requiring the greatest accuracy, smallest tolerances and best surface qualities, for example tool and mold manufacturing, medical technology, aviation and aerospace, machine and apparatus construction, engine and auto racing technology and the subcontractor industry.

New dimensions in five-axis high-performance milling - traverse paths in the working range with X, Y, and Z axes of 1200 mm,1300 mm, 900 mm, respectively, plus rotating C-axis allow for the complete machining of workpieces with a collision diameter of 1,400 mm and a height of 900 mm.

To meet the requirements from industries like tool and die-making, energy systems, aerospace as well as drive technology and machine manufacturing, German machine manufacturer Berthold Hermle AG has welcomed a new member to its globally successful C Series product line of machining centers. With its new high-performance 5-axis CNC machining center called the C 60 U dynamic, Hermle AG is launching the largest machine in the company's history. Systematically designed for simultaneous and complete machining with 5 axes and based on the tried-and-trusted modified gantry design, the C 60 U dynamic machining center for large parts is a high-performance machine for universal precision machining. This machine now makes it possible for Hermle AG to serve its existing customer base when it comes to machining very large workpieces weighing up to 2,500 kg. In addition, this machine's range of application will enable Hermle AG to expand into new market segments for which a corresponding machine size was previously unavailable. 

Keeping in mind the concept "better machining and improved performance for the customer," design engineers at Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG are constantly enhancing the company's machining technology. This applies not only to the universal and 5-axis CNC machining centers, but also the company's automation technology, which includes pallet changers, pallet and workpiece magazines, additional tool magazines as well as handling and robot systems. Hermle-Leibinger Systemtechnik GmbH (HLS for short), which is a subsidiary of Hermle AG, is responsible for automation technology, thus ensuring that complete production solutions come from one source. The automation specialists from HLS deal not only with handling and material flow equipment, but also with innovative clamping technology as a basis for lean process solutions.

The company's most recent development is a pneumatic arbor holder that is very easy to install on the machine table (A axis) and can perfectly clamp workpieces like shafts or even long and narrow medical equipment parts, turbine blades and impellers as well, not to mention optimally positioning them. The pneumatic arbor holder is designed to be mounted on the C 30, C 40 und C 42 model CNC machining centers and can be used for clamping with a pin or a bushing (can be changed manually). The entire opening stroke or traverse range of the arbor holder is 240 mm and can be individually adjusted/positioned between 0 to 240 mm by the machine control unit with a repeat accuracy of +/- 1 mm. Moreover, the set pressure on the pin can be finely adjusted via the machine control unit.

Using the C 30 U as an example of a CNC high performance machining center where the distance between the table surface and the tip is about 440 mm, in an off-center and max. extended state, it becomes apparent that the max. workpiece length to be machined in the Y axis (if A axis position -90°is used) remains the same at 440 mm; and, unless there are possible add-ons for clamping the workpiece, no restrictions have to be taken into consideration.
With a "C 30-centered" machine bed, an A axis position of -90° consequently reduces the available Y axis dimension and the set-up of the arbor holder additionally limits the A axis swivel range to the -100° to 25° range. Using a pneumatic rotational indexing device, the positions -90°, 0° and 90° can be achieved which makes it possible to clamp or reinforce the respective workpiece with the tip or with the bushing.

For example, this means that workpieces with an 80 mm diameter and a 440 mm length (A axis swivels by 90°) between the tip and the clamping fixture on the NC rotary table (C axis) can be machined along the complete length. On the other hand, if it is a less "inherently stable" workpiece, such as a shaft with a 30 mm diameter and 440 mm length, this is clamped into the clamping fixture of the NC rotary table (C axis) and precisely guided and supported in the bushing. In the A axis 0° loading position, workpieces can be simply inserted into the clamping fixture and, by quickly changing the bushing manually, without any downtimes even if the workpiece has a different diameter.

Over 2000 visitors from Germany and throughout Europe, including groups from Japan, Korea, Russia, Israel, China and Thailand, attended the traditional in-house exhibition of Hermle AG in Gosheim from April 23 - 26, 2008.

When the modernisation of the sheet-metal fabrication area was completed in summer 2007 chip removal manufacturing at Hermle was expanded and new production equipment installed.

With its 5-axis machines in the C Series, Hermle has been setting standards for economical and high-precision machining of prismatic workpieces in various branches of industry for years. The often copied design with 3 axes in the tool and 2 axes in the swivelling rotary table has been an established concept in 5-axis milling for some time now. It was this principle that allowed Hermle AG to almost quadruple sales from about 43 million euros when these machining centres were introduced to the market in 1995 to about 193 million euros in 2006. This success story is based primarily on the high rate of acceptance of the modified gantry design. This technology was continually adjusted to meet the demands of the market over the course of the recent years. Thus, torque motors, stainless steel-lined interiors with no interfering edges for whatever the machining task, intelligent control units with safety devices, an ergonomic layout for the machine operator and special designs for individual customer requirements above all are now standard features.