JTEKT Debuts Advanced Pallet Pool Automation System

Chicago, IL-- JTEKT Machinery Americas Corporation featured seven new machines and automation platforms at IMTS 2024, plus IoT solutions and technology presentations. Showcasing a complete range of production solutions powered by JTEKT, the company’s new offerings include Horizontal Machining Centers, a WELE 5-axis VMC as well as a Vertical Turning Center, Takisawa Taiwan CNC Turning Centers and two new production Cylindrical Grinding Machines.

The FH5000 Series with Pallet Automation

JTEKT demonstrated its FH5000 Series high-speed Horizontal Machining Centers with advanced automation - specifically, a vertical pallet pool developed for efficient, flexible pallet management. The competitive advantage of the FH5000 Series is its 25% greater machining capacity than other machines in its size range. 

The FH5000S-i machine offers 800 x 800 x 880 mm (X, Y, Z) strokes, 900mm workpiece diameter, and 1100mm workpiece height capacity. FH5000 Series machines include a 500mm table capable of handling 1000 kg loads. "With this series, JTEKT meets the growing demand for producing components with high metal removal rates, short cycle times and superior surface finishes," said a company spokesperson.

Pallet-handling automation key to unattended production

“We determined that the sweet spot of the machining center market—typically a 500mm table--needed greater machining capacity, flexibility and productivity. Designing pallet automation for this machine range provides shops with greater possibilities for unattended production at a more competitive price point,” said Graham Roeder, JTEKT Vice President of Sales.

To offer the benefits of unattended production to shops of any size, JTEKT designed and produced pallet changers for single machines, as well as pallet pools for flexible machining systems which permit longer running time, Roeder said.

To support unattended machining JTEKT also includes adaptive control in its standard machine package, which allows users to manage tool life through acceptable spindle load ranges. The machine, control, and pallet automation are all JTEKT designed and built to operate seamlessly as a system.

“We help users with a strategy that will allow them to handle more machining in a single machine, with tool complements from 60 to over 300 tools,” Roeder said. “So, with pallet automation, adaptive control, large tool complements on-board, 25% higher part density in a 160 sq-ft floorspace, we are helping both small and larger shops in general machining, aerospace and other industries to optimize production and reduce production cost.