Automatic drilling milling and band sawing line processing Jumbo beams | VALIANT & KATANA

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The CNC drilling machine Valiant, uses unique steel fabrication technology to achieve industry-leading productivity for a drill/saw with three spindles, all with sub-axis positioning. Ficep was the first firm to develop automation for three spindle-drilling lines in the early 60’s.
The Valiant uses a positive rack and pinion system to achieve exceptional accuracy. The positioning of the section to be processed is achieved to exacting standards regardless of the sections surface condition. This carriage system also automatically measures the stock length of the section prior to processing to maximize material utilization. This positive feeding system advances the section through the drill/saw so all the stock length material can be utilized without requiring a drop. If a trim cut is desired, this is automatically removed and placed on a small parts conveyor without any involvement of the operator or attendant. If short parts are required, or a drop is generated, they are processed in the same fully automatic manner.
The Valiant three spindle drilling line is engineered with FICEP’s “Direct Drive” spindle technology to deliver 100% of the motor’s 31 KW (42 HP) power to the tool at speeds up to 5,000 RPM. The positive spindle feed is designed to take full advantage of today’s high performance carbide tooling. Each spindle is furnished with a 6 or 14 position automatic tool changer to accommodate HSK-50 tool holders to generate holes sizes of up to 40 mm (1-9/16”). The Valiant family of drills has the unique feature that each drilling spindle has its own independent sub-axis so operations can be generated in all three surfaces simultaneously even when they are not in line. For example the three spindles could be milling, scribing and drilling at the same time. Studies have concluded that the drilling process can be over three times quicker when comparing the drilling productivity of the Valiant to three spindle drills without sub-axis positioning.
Each of the 3 drill spindles can be furnished with scribing tools to establish layout locations, detail orientation and weld symbols where required. When scribing is accomplished with a drill line that has sub-axis positioning all three surfaces are scribed simultaneously! As an option an underside-scribing tool, also with sub axis positioning, can be added to permit 4-side simultaneous scribing to eliminate manual layout. FICEP invented and has received numerous patents for the automatic importation of the locations of the intersecting members from the 3-D model. These innovative patents eliminate any manual programming to establish not just holes but all the required layout locations. The Valiant family of FICEP multiple spindle drilling lines can be fully integrated with a FICEP KATANA engineered and manufactured band saw of a corresponding size.
The band saws feature full automation of clamping, feeding, blade adjustments and rotation of the saw to the desired miter angle with positive rack and pinion positioning. Even the lateral position of the optional vertical clamp can be adjusted to accommodate the depth of the section being processed. Industries leading cutting times are achieved with a propriety pneumatic blade dampening system to reduce blade harmonics while increasing the life of the cutting tool.
In addition to standard beams, our Valiant and Katana machines are capable of processing the largest jumbo beams available on the market today with exceptional precision and performance. In this video, you can see the processing of an HL 920x1377 jumbo beam, weighing a total of 14,500 kg. Thanks to the sub-axes on each spindle, the machine simultaneously drills 8 holes of 28 mm diameter on each leg and 12 holes of 28 mm diameter on the web. The total drilling time for the shown piece is 5 minutes and 16 seconds.
Moreover, the FICEP Valiant can create rat holes on both sides and prepare the weld on both flanges through milling. After the mechanical operations, the Katana band saw successfully saws the jumbo beam in a total cutting time of 10 minutes and 59 seconds for one cut.