Plenty to discover at Mazak’s event in Kentucky

Oct. 18, 2023

More than 2,000 manufacturing pros from 7 countries visited weeklong technology showcase

Mazak welcomed more than 2,000 industrial-manufacturing professionals from almost every state and seven different countries to its campus in Florence, Kentucky, for Discover 2023 in early October.

Figure 1: Mazak machines are used to build Mazak machines in the iSmart Factory in Florence, Kentucky.

The weeklong event included educational presentations and live demonstrations of Mazak machinery, as well as tours of its National Technology Center and iSmart Factory, where Mazak machines build Mazak machines (Figure 1).

Get your subscription to Control Design's print magazine, free to qualified individuals in North America.

Figure 2: The Mazak iSmart Factory includes multiple areas for various stages of the machine-building process with process data collected at every turn.

The iSmart Factory includes areas for powder coating, fabrication, large-machine assembly, modular-unit assembly, vertical-machining-center assembly, modular staging, automated storage and retrieval, machining and grinding (Figure 2).

“Yesterday’s technology won’t secure tomorrow’s success,” cautioned Dan Janka, president of Mazak, who advised attendees to learn more, do more and make more with Mazak—the theme of Discover 2023 (Figure 3).

Four pavilions of technology showcased machinery. The job-shop pavilion introduced the VC-Ez and QT-Ez CNC machining and turning centers. The VC-Ez16x is a Kentucky-built five-axis vertical mill. It features the Smooth Ez5 controller, 20-hp/12,000-rpm spindle, MX linear roller guides and 30-tool magazine (Figure 4). A friction-stir-welding package, Renishaw dual probe kit, programmable coolant nozzle and Jorgenson Eco-filter chip conveyor are among the optional features.

Figure 4: The VC-Ez features Mazak’s Smooth Ez5 controller, 20-hp/12,000-rpm spindle, MX linear roller guides and 30-tool magazine.

The QT450 is a horizontal lathe with a 50-hp, liquid-cooled headstock, programmable tailstock and multiple bed lengths. It features Smooth G control, automatic tooleye and a 12-position, high-index coupling turret.

A high-production pavilion featured the Syncrex Swiss-style turning machines, which utilize Mazatrol Smooth controls (Figure 5).

Figure 5: The Syncrex Swiss-style turning machine utilizes Mazatrol Smooth controls.

Five-axis technology, horizontal machining centers and Palletech systems comprised one of the advanced manufacturing pavilions, while the other demonstrated multi-tasking machines, such as the Integrex i-450H, which combines turning and machining (Figure 6). Among the featured machines in the multi-tasking action area were Mazak’s Integrex series that combine multiple operations for Done in One processing of raw materials to finished part.

Figure 6: The Integrex i-450H combines turning and machining.

More than 4,3oo Multiplex W-series machines have been sold globally. The W300 is designed for medium- to high-volume production (Figure 7). A center partition offers simultaneous, independent part processing, and Smooth G controls can be used for conversation or G-code programming.

Figure 7: More than 4,3oo Mazak Multiplex W-series machines have been sold globally.

About the Author

Mike Bacidore | Editor in Chief

Mike Bacidore is chief editor of Control Design and has been an integral part of the Endeavor Business Media editorial team since 2007. Previously, he was editorial director at Hughes Communications and a portfolio manager of the human resources and labor law areas at Wolters Kluwer. Bacidore holds a BA from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He is an award-winning columnist, earning multiple regional and national awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. He may be reached at [email protected]