Kern Hydrostatic Five-Axis Machining Center Increases Efficiency | Modern Machine Shop

IMTS 2024: Kern Precision highlights the Kern Micro HD+, a five-axis machining center with fully hydrostatic B and C axes, plus a custom turntable design.

Kern Precision Inc. is showcasing the Kern Micro HD+ hydrostatic five-axis machining center for milling, designed to increase efficiency and decrease rejects. According to the company, the result of the use of hydrostatics is a raised standard for surface quality and accuracy of the workpiece together, with complete reliability throughout the entire process. The Kern Micro HD+ introduces fully hydrostatic B and C axes, as well as a custom turntable design.

The company says that challenges like thermal expansion and wear and tear, coming along with the preload of B and C axes, are obsolete with the hydrostatic solution.

The Kern Micro HD+ is tailored to customers who machine high-precision parts. It combines micro-gap hydrostatics and direct drives. Plus, the stiffness of the entire unit is increased by a factor of 1.5. It is said that applying hydrostatics in B and C – being the rotary and the swivel axes – can open another dimension while bringing the reject rate down at the same time.

Attendees can see the hydrostatic turntable and a range of fully automated machines, as well as machines equipped with jig grinding and circular grinding options.

While much focus is placed on the machinery that moves parts, the features most important for automating five-axis machining are arguably found in the machine tool itself.

Cam-actuated Swiss lathes are still the fastest way to process many parts. By adding modern bar feeders, this shop has dramatically improved their utilization with the ability to work unattended, even in a lights-out environment.

Finish machining additively manufactured implants requires different pacing and workflow than cutting parts from stock — different enough for an experienced manufacturer to warrant a dedicated machine shop.