Heller Machine Tools Expands its F Series with the Launch of the F 8000 Five-Axis Machining Centre – A Larger Capacity Model for Greater Flexibility and Efficiency in 2025

Redditch-based Heller Machine Tools Ltd has unveiled its latest addition to the F series – the F 8000 five-axis machining centre. This new, larger-capacity machine builds upon the success of the F 5000 and F 6000 models, offering users enhanced productivity and flexibility in manufacturing. The F 8000 is designed to meet the demands of both single-part production and flexible series manufacturing, making it an ideal solution for a wide range of industries, from aerospace to automotive.

The F 8000 boasts an impressive working envelope of 1,400 x 1,200 x 1,400mm, with an X-axis stroke that is 150mm longer than its predecessor, the F 6000. Despite its increased capacity, the new machine occupies a 25% smaller footprint, thanks to an innovative redesign of the rack-type tool storage system. This allows for up to four machines to be placed side-by-side, a significant improvement over the previous configuration, which could only accommodate three units in the same space.

One of the standout features of the F 8000 is its ability to deliver enhanced performance with the optional PRO version, which provides a 50% increase in linear axis acceleration, reaching 6m/sec². This acceleration boost reduces chip-to-chip time by approximately 30%, significantly improving overall productivity. Additionally, the PRO package offers superior precision, with a positioning tolerance of just 6µm in the X, Y, and Z axes, a 25% improvement over the former model.

The F 8000 comes standard with an automatic pallet changer, utilizing 800 x 800mm pallets. However, it also offers the flexibility to use larger 1,000 x 1,000mm pallets, with a maximum load of 2,000kg. Beginning in 2025, an optional 3,000kg pallet load will be available, further enhancing the machine’s versatility. Additionally, the F 8000 supports extended automation options, including linear or rotary storage systems and robotic integration, enabling users to further optimize their production processes.

In terms of modularity, the F 8000 retains the same key components as the entire F series, including heads, spindles, pallets, and tool magazines. This standardization ensures compatibility not only with previous generations of five-axis machines but also with Heller’s new H series of four-axis horizontal machining centres. By using the same structural components, such as beds and columns, the F 8000 delivers consistent performance across the series, offering the same strokes, pallet loads, and workpiece dimensions.

The F 8000 and its smaller counterparts feature high-performance, swivelling heads with integrated motor spindles, developed and manufactured in-house by Heller. These heads are equipped with an HSK-A 100 tool interface as standard, offering torques of 400Nm and speeds of up to 12,000rev/min. For even higher performance, the Speed Cutting Unit provides speeds of 15,000rev/min, and with optional HSK-A 63 tooling, spindle speeds can reach up to 18,000rev/min. For ultra-heavy machining, the Power Cutting Universal unit delivers a torque of 1,146Nm and speeds up to 8,000rev/min.

The F 8000 also offers a tilt head variant, providing exceptional flexibility for five-axis machining. This tilt kinematics option is ideal for machining recesses and undercuts, particularly in the aerospace sector, where such operations are frequently required. Additionally, the F 8000 features a high-torque, direct-drive rotary table for combined mill-turning operations, allowing external and internal contours to be turned in a single set-up, thus improving accuracy and reducing cycle times.

The F 8000 is equipped with the latest Siemens CNC system, Sinumerik One, which is fully compatible with programs run on previous Heller machines using the Siemens Sinumerik 840D sl control. This ensures a seamless transition for existing users and enables the F 8000 to integrate smoothly into current production environments.

Heller’s F 8000 five-axis machining centre is a game-changer for manufacturers looking to expand their capacity, improve flexibility, and enhance productivity. With its larger working envelope, superior performance, and extensive automation capabilities, the F 8000 is poised to meet the demands of modern manufacturing in 2025 and beyond.