CMA CNC Tapping Center Helps German Company Shorten Machining Time

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 14, the German sheet metal processing company Kuipers Technologies announced the results of its use of the CMA Maschinen CNC FTC tapping machining center. The equipment is mainly used for secondary finishing of pre-drilled holes after laser cutting, consolidating processes such as thread machining, reaming, and countersinking—which previously had to be performed separately on conventional machine tools—into a single machine, thereby reducing workpiece handling, repeated clamping, and equipment changeover time.

The CMA FTC machining center currently configured by Kuipers has a working range of 3000×1500×200 mm, adopts a three-axis structure, and is equipped with a 10-position tool magazine, enabling continuous machining of large sheets and multi-hole components. The equipment reads workpiece hole position data through CNC programs, automatically positions and performs secondary machining on holes pre-machined by laser, and is suitable for various processes such as threads, fitting holes, and countersinks.

The equipment also uses CMA's patented oscillating tool holder, which can compensate for radial deviations of up to approximately 1 mm between laser pre-machined holes and their theoretical positions, reducing tool load and rework risks caused by hole position errors. Kuipers stated that after introducing this equipment, the machining time and setup time for related parts have been reduced, while the consistency of repeated machining and stability of the production process have been improved.

Kuipers is headquartered in Meppen, Germany, and currently has approximately 330 employees. Its business covers laser cutting, punching, bending, forming, welding, machining, and component assembly. In addition to the CMA FTC, its existing equipment system also includes multiple machining centers, lathes, tapping machines, and automated deburring equipment. The application of this CNC tapping center further strengthens the automation capability of the post-laser-cutting finishing process.