F&L Tool Corp.

Introducing the MX-520

F&L turned to Matsuura and Selway Machine Tool Co., the local distributor, to find a solution. They chose Matsuura's MX-520, a compact 5-Axis VMC known for its high precision, performance, speed, accuracy, and reliability. The machine's compact footprint and ergonomic design allow for rapid setup and processing of parts, and its headstock and trunnion have been configured to minimize collisions while maximizing tool access and reach. With a 20,000rpm Big Plus Spindle, a 500mm Table, and a load capacity of 440lbs, the MX-520 was the right machine to handle the complexity of F&L's parts. "We ran 100hrs, lights-out, holding tenths", stated F&L Production Engineer Ryan Lacroix.

The MX-520 provided F&L with a simple, effortless, and cost-effective transition from 3-Axis to full 5-Axis operation. But when F&L encountered a part that was almost too big for the machine to handle, they ran into an issue with their software. The location of the spindle on the MX-520 allowed them to mill on one side of the component, flip it around the C-axis, and get a larger work envelope. But their software, Mastercam, did not support this at the time. CAMplete, a software solutions provider, saw their problem and quickly helped them resolve the issue.