HURCO'S PROCOBOTS AUTOMATION/CNC MACHINE INTEGRATION SOLUTIONS

Hurco Companies, Inc. is excited to show visitors of the 2024 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) how easy it is to implement and benefit from machine-tending automation thanks to the ProCobots-Hurco integration.

Hurco will demonstrate the capabilities of ProCobots automation on several Hurco machines, illustrating how simple it is to set up and run different jobs through the Hurco control’s Automation Job Manager feature, which eliminates the need for robot programming. Attendees will also see how quick it is to move ProCobots from one machine to another, as well as the collaborative robot’s safety features.

While IMTS guests will notice the focus on automation, the Hurco control is what makes such complete automation integration possible. To demonstrate the power and flexibility of the Hurco control, visitors can interact with demo consoles and see the demonstrations on the following Hurco models: the new TM8MYi with live tooling and a Y-axis and the TM8i slant-bed lathe; the 3-axisVM ONE, VM15Di, VMX42Di, and the 5-axis VMX60SRTi and VC500i. Hurco will also give visitors a glimpse of the future look of Hurco machines, exhibiting design concepts of the Hurco control and the CNC machine.
Be sure to stop by IMTS booth 338319 to witness the future of machining.
Hurco machines will also be exhibited at the booths of the following partners:

Kawasaki Robotics: Booth 236520

Air Turbine Tools: Booth 431645

SolidCAM: Booth 339265

Why automation?
For years, Hurco has heard from small-to-medium-sized manufacturing companies that have been affected by the labor shortage and struggle to find qualified employees. For the first time in 45 years, the U.S. is facing a labor shortage that is predicted to continue for the next two decades. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the shortage of employees for all industries will reach 8.3 million by 2030.

The need for automation was obvious, but implementing it, especially for high-mix manufacturing, wasn’t always so simple. Job shops looking to add automation faced the roadblock of either having to learn how to program a robot or paying an integrator to set up the automation every time they had a new job.
This is why Hurco created ProCobots and fully integrated automation into the Hurco control. This eliminates the need for complex robot programing and allows the user to manage their automation through the Hurco control. Simply put: if you can run a Hurco, you can run ProCobots automation!
ProCobots automation allows shops to take the time-consuming task of loading/unloading parts off their machinists’ plates, freeing them up to maximize their contribution by focusing on more important responsibilities. Not only does implementation of ProCobots automation on Hurco CNC machines expand the skillset of current shop floor employees, but it also increases the overall productivity of the shop. When machinists clock out, ProCobots can keep running through the night, maximizing profits.
Machine facts:
TM8MYi: This new turning center was built to fill the gap between Hurco’s general purpose TM Series and high-performance TMX Series of lathes. The TM8MYi is a slant-bed lathe with live tooling capabilities and a Y-axis that makes it possible to machine a pocket with straight walls and flat bottoms or perform off-center machining operations with just the click of a box. It also features a BMT55 turret, which is more robust and rigid than the more commonly used BMT45. Find out more when the machine is introduced to the public this September at IMTS!
VM ONE: With a small footprint yet large work cube, this mill packs an inordinate amount of productivity into an efficiently designed package. The VM ONE offers a 26 x 16 x 14 inches of XYZ travels and requires 72.5 x 70.6 x 87.2 inches (W x D x H) of space. This 3-axis, general purpose machining center also features a belt-driven, 8,000-rpm, CAT 40, Big Plus spindle, providing great bang for your buck!
VM15Di: Another 3-axis machine in Hurco’s VM Series, the VM15Di provides the same value as the VM ONE but in a larger, more powerful package. With 30 x 16 x 20 inches of XYZ travel, this machining center features a direct-drive, 12,000-rpm, CAT 40, Big Plus spindle. Hurco will use the VM15Di to preview design concepts of the machine and the control that illustrate the new look and feel of future machines.
VMX42Di: The VMX42Di (42 x 24 x 24 inches of XYZ travels) is part of the VMX Series, Hurco’s signature line of CNC machining centers. This 3-axis mill provides high-performance capabilities to any machining application. Whether you are doing die/mold work or batch production, the VMX42Di delivers through speed, performance and precision. With a 15,000-rpm, direct-drive spindle and Big Plus, CAT 40 spindle taper, the VMX42Di boasts better surface finish, reduced heat transfer, a quieter spindle, and less head growth. It also enables reduced chip-to-chip time and faster spindle acceleration and deceleration due to the direct-drive spindle.
VMX60SRTi: Hurco’s SRT Series of 5-axis machining centers offers multiple advantages, starting with the machine's design configuration that utilizes a B-axis swivel head with a C-axis rotary torque table. The generous size of the rotary table provides maximum versatility because you can use the extra table space for secondary operations, 3-axis work., or plate work due to the rotary torque table being flush with the machine table. The VMX60SRTi has XYZ travels of 60 x 26 x 24 inches and a motorized, 12,000-rpm spindle with 48 HP.
VC500i: The 5-axis universal design of the VC500i supports a wide range of parts and allows you to use standard length tooling due to the B-axis configuration. The full +110° / -110° B-axis motion provides superb undercut capability. This machining center features 20.5 x 17.7 x 15.8 inches of XYZ travels, a 12,000-rpm, CAT 40 spindle and 40-tool ATC.
TM8i: This true 30° slant-bed lathe offers a small footprint, large work cube, chip management system, and affordable price tag, making small batch manufacturing profitable. The TM8i has a 23.2-in distance between centers and 8-in diameter chuck.