Okuma, Okamoto, and ACCRETECH hold joint private shows in Osaka

Three manufacturers offer hands-on demos near Esaka Station

On February 2 and 3, 2023, Okuma, Okamoto Machine Tool Works, and TOKYO SEIMITSU (operating under the brand ACCRETECH) jointly held private shows at their respective showrooms located near Esaka Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. The event allowed visitors to walk between showrooms and see machines firsthand in a highly efficient format.

The event, held annually prior to the pandemic, returned after a three-year hiatus. Compared to the 2020 edition, the latest show featured expanded proposals for automation and renewed exhibition themes reflecting changes in market trends.

Okuma highlights robot-assisted automation

Automated workpiece replacement using a combination of MC and robot / Okuma

Okuma showcased its “smarTwinCELL” cell controller, which supports machine tool operation through integration with industrial robots. A live demonstration connected a MB-46VA vertical machining center to a Yaskawa Electric robot, illustrating easy robot programming by setting only the start and end points of the motion path.

The interface is designed to resemble a standard machine tool control panel, and operation via a pulse handle allows machine tool operators to manage robot motion with minimal training.

Okuma’s Osaka branch manager commented, “The past three years have brought changes to the machine tool industry. Automation, decarbonization, and digitalization are now in high demand. While semiconductor projects have slowed, construction and agricultural machinery remain strong markets in western Japan.”

Okamoto promotes standardization and versatility in grinding

Visitors listen intently to the person in charge / Okamoto Machine Tool Works

Okamoto exhibited four models, including the HPG500NC CNC form grinder, an upgraded version of the HPG500. The new model retains manual handle control while adding NC capability and interactive software, making it easier to execute grinding cycles and wheel shaping. The machine offers enhanced rigidity and an accessible price range.

Other exhibited models included:

• PSG64CA-iQ: surface grinder for large workpieces

• OGM250EXIII: cylindrical grinder with auto dressing and infeed correction

• PRG6DXNC: rotary surface grinder with a unique double-column design

Okamoto’s Osaka sales manager emphasized the company’s comprehensive lineup of grinders, including internal grinding machines, to cover the full spectrum of grinding needs.

ACCRETECH presents metrology solutions for EV applications

Display of measuring instruments for a wide range of applications / ACCRETECH

ACCRETECH displayed 17 measurement models, including the METROTOM 1, an X-ray CT measuring system developed by Carl Zeiss. The system integrates the functionality of a coordinate measuring machine, microscope, X-ray inspection system, and 3D scanner.

Also introduced was the Shaftcom C Series, designed for measuring EV drive shafts and other components using video-based systems. The company also presented the XYZAX AXCEL PH coordinate measuring machine.

“The METROTOM 1 is ideal for non-destructive testing of aluminum parts, which are common in EV manufacturing,” noted ACCRETECH’s Osaka sales manager. The company emphasized its commitment to expanding measurement solutions tailored to EV production.