VC-500 AM 5-Axis Hybrid Multitask Machine

Mazak Corp. offers the VC-500 AM hybrid multitasking machine, which combines full 5-axis subtractive capability and additive technology to enhance product design, reduce time to market and cut R&D costs. Designed and manufactured in the Mazak iSmart Factory, the compact, cost-effective VC-500 AM brings together Mazak’s considerable expertise in fiber laser technology and additive manufacturing.

The VC-500 AM accommodates a wide range of part sizes and shapes on a simple, compact 5-axis platform, making it well-suited for educational institutions and R&D facilities as well as manufacturing operations of all sizes.

The VC-500 AM easily builds part features to near-net shape without wasting expensive material or losing time. It then machines those features to precise finished sizes. The VC-500 AM can machine parts with diameters up to 19.7", lengths up to 12" and weights up to 440 lbs. Depending on the application and the location of part features, the machine’s additive cladding head works within this same machining area.

The machine uses direct metal deposition to provide geometric freedom, with both additive and subtractive machining capabilities applied in a single setup. The laser cladding heads reside side by side with the subtractive machining spindle. The VC-500 AM uses fiber laser heat to melt metal powder and grow near-net-shape 3D forms. The cladding head layers the molten material, which solidifies as the desired part surface or feature grows. The laser cladding head also can coat chosen sections of the part with metal, allowing the machine to repair worn or damaged high-value components.