Our cooperation with SCHNEEBERGER ensures you get a high-quality mineral casting machine base for your tools.
The global CNC milling machine market was worth $13.9 billion in 2021. Demand for these high-precision machines is growing as industrial and manufacturing activity rebounds.
With more and more CNC shops entering the market, what are you doing to stay competitive? Is it time to upgrade your equipment? How will you choose the best machine for your shop?
Mineral castings for machine tools give you a competitive advantage. A mineral casting machine base helps you work more accurately. It's an economical option that's also high-quality.
You can learn more about mineral casting and why it's a premier choice for CNC machine tools.
What Is Mineral Casting?
Mineral casting is also known as epoxy granite, granite composite, and polymer-bonded mineral casting. It's an alternative to parts made from grey cast iron or steel.
Mineral casting is made from cement, granite, and quartz sand. It has reinforcing fibres and nanoparticles. The epoxy resin binds all the components together.
Moulds for mineral casting can be made from wood, fibreglass, steel, or aluminium. Unlike many other materials, mineral casting is produced at room temperature.
Benefits of Mineral Castings for Machine Tools
Mineral casting for machine tools have several advantages over iron and steel. It improves the performance of industrial tools. It's an economical choice that's better for the environment.
Less Vibration
- CNC machine tools need to run quickly and with extreme precision. High speeds and heavy-duty applications make the machine frame vibrate. These vibrations affect the part surface.
- Vibration also creates wear and tear on the machine.
- An epoxy granite CNC frame can reduce vibrations. It dampens them around six times faster than a cast-iron frame and ten times faster than a steel frame. The machines make less noise.
- A mineral casting machine bed for tools like a milling machine or grinder makes the tool more accurate. Parts have a higher surface quality. The tool has less wear and a longer service life.
High-Quality Machine Structures
- The design and production process for an epoxy granite CNC machine allows for a very high-quality product. The mineral casting process provides great flexibility regarding the shape of machine components. Complex machine structures meet the specified dimensions.
- The epoxy granite production process doesn't require high temperatures. Connecting parts, pipes, and cables can be cast directly into the structures. Sensor systems and measuring technology can also be included.
- The production process is more streamlined. Intricate machine sub-assemblies with integrated guideways function reliably in the finished product.
Better Thermal Stability
- Mineral casting reacts slowly to changes in temperature. Its thermal conductivity is lower than metallic materials. Short-term temperature changes have a more minor impact on the dimensional accuracy of the tool.
- A mineral casting machine bed holds its shape better than other materials. This reduces the possibility of geometrical errors when machining.
Corrosion Resistance
- A mineral casting machine base resists aggressive liquids like cutting oils and coolants. The tools function well even when these chemicals are present in the production environment.
More Economical
- Mineral casting for CNC is more economical than other options.
- Mineral cast components have minimal contraction during hardening. They can be cast to their final dimensions. They don't need finishing processes that add to the production cost.
- Integrating components like guideways and threaded inserts during casting reduces the need for additional processing.
Less Environmental Impact
- Using epoxy granite as a structural material for precision machines has a smaller environmental impact. Mineral casting is almost 100% reusable. It's ecologically sustainable.
- The production process doesn't require high temperatures. This saves energy.
Mineral Casting CNC Machines from SYIL and SCHNEEBERGER
SYIL is proud to partner with SCHNEEBERGER GmbH on the mineral casting frames for our precision tools. SCHNEEBERGER is known for exceptional mineral casting manufacturing. They're a world leader in linear motion technology.
SYIL began working with SCHNEEBERGER in 2020. All our machines are now based on a world-class SCHNEEBERGER mineral casting machine bed.
Epoxy Granite Machine Base vs. Cast Iron
SYIL machine tools previously used a cast iron frame. The switch to mineral casting benefits our clients in several ways.
First, an epoxy granite CNC mill has high damping properties and low vibration. Cast iron will vibrate much more. You get more accurate results and quieter operation with epoxy granite.
Second, mineral casting has low heat conductivity. It has a high heat capacity. It's less sensitive to short-term temperature fluctuations.
Cast iron is the opposite. It has higher heat conductivity and lower heat capacity. Temperature fluctuations may reduce precision and make the machine noisier.
Third, epoxy granite offers a wider range of design possibilities. Cast iron requires additional machining to get embedded parts and other features.
Finally, mineral casting is better for the environment. It needs fewer resources to produce than cast iron. It's eligible for environmentally friendly disposal and recycling.
X5
The X5 is a mini epoxy granite milling machine ideal for use in a school or CNC shop. It has a small footprint and complete CNC capabilities. The price is affordable.
X7
The X7 is a small but powerful precision machine. It can cut the toughest materials. Standard features include a fast tool changer and a spindle that works rapidly.
X9
The X9 is scheduled to launch in end of 2023. It can handle a wide range of industrial applications. Features include high-precision linear motion technology and a cutting feed speed of 10,000mm/min.
X11
The X11 is a premium, high-precision CNC machine. The top-quality spindle has an automatic cooling system. The X11 also features fixed-position servo motors.
Get the Benefits of Epoxy Granite for CNC
Mineral castings for machine tools bring your CNC shop many advantages. You have less tool vibration and temperature sensitivity. The machine frame resists corrosion.
Mineral casting CNC industrial tools are better for the environment and more cost-effective.
You can trust SYIL for your CNC machine tools. We prioritise precision engineering and quality materials. Our cooperation with SCHNEEBERGER ensures you get a high-quality mineral casting machine base for your tools.