High precision, fast, and affordable

CMR machines are specially made for heavy-duty jobs. They are very easy to use, fast and yet powerful, massive but with good dynamic performance, and precise. These machines are in an entirely different class than their predecessors. The current CMR machines incorporate the most recent innovations in mechanical, electronic and software technology.

Thanks to this new form of construction, we can not only produce a better machine, but also supply it at an exceptionally good price/performance ratio. Check out the details, note the scope of the accessories included with the machine, and compare. The Colinbus CMR is in a class of its own.

In all sizes

Colinbus CMR machines are available in several standard sizes. However, made-to-measure machines are always possible. The unique construction of these machines makes it possible to build very large models. Made-to-measure machines are normally more expensive than standard models, but this is not the case with the large CMR machines. Machines longer than 3,000 mm are calculated using a standard, fixed formula. As a result, you can purchase a made-to-measure machine at a standard price.

Special features

• Massive steel base

  CLR machines have a massive steel base. It is made in the Colinbus factory and meets the highest standards. Its structure is based on the results of recent engineering studies, which make it possible to avoid the known disadvantages of conventional steel construction. As a result, Colinbus CMR machines can always be aligned with extreme precision, even in case of deformation resulting from transportation or some other cause.

• Brushless AC servomotors

  Brushless AC servo motors are reliable, efficient and compact, they do not require maintenance, and they provide outstanding resolution. Colinbus uses state-of-the-art digital amplifiers and Endat encoders. Each motor is fully programmable, which not only yields optimal acceleration and deceleration, but also makes after-sales service easier and thus less expensive.

• 3D controller as standard

  Is the machine you’re considering a true 3D machine or a pseudo-3D machine? This is often far from clear. There are many machines on the market that perform 3D simulation but are not capable of interpolating three axes simultaneously. The difference is clearly evident in the end product, and the machining time is usually a good deal longer. Colinbus CLR machines are equipped with a full 3D controller as standard, which means they can fabricate very attractive 3D objects.

• Helical toothed racks

  The Colinbus CMR series is fitted as standard with helical toothed racks, which are characterised by smoother motion, lower loading, and higher precision than conventional toothed-rack drives. Due to its significantly higher price, this type of drive is rarely used in mid-range machines. However, their advantages are so large that the Colinbus engineers decided to use them as standard in the CMR machines. Customers who are interested in speed will certainly welcome this decision, since this system allows the pace of work to be boosted.

• Dual-drive bridge

  Driving the bridge on both sides has considerable advantages relative to central drive or a single-sided drive. They include better acceleration and smoother motion, but the most important advantage is the assurance that the bridge is always perpendicular to the table. The two powerful servo motors eliminate any possibility of distortion. If one end of the bridge tends to lag behind, for example due to heavy milling work near the edge of the table, the two motors counter this tendency and keep the bridge perfectly perpendicular.

• Simple, easily understandable operation

  Operating a Colinbus machine is remarkably easy, which is why these machines are so popular in companies that do not have trained machinists on staff. The powerful user interface lets you operate the machines in many different ways – in the customary manner of a real machinist, or using a fully graphic screen where you can control everything in a normal Windows environment. Everyone can learn to use a Colinbus machine in only a short time, which is unique in the world of machine tools.

	Colinbus CMR machines – general specifications
Item number	n/a
Working area	From 1000/1000/100 mm (X/Y/Z) to 3000/30000/1500 mm (X/Y/Z)
Clamping area	Depends on working area
Resolution	0,01mm
Repeatability	+/- 0,05 mm
Drilling speed	n/a
X/Y drives	Brushless AC servomotors and helical toothed racks
Z drive	Brushless AC servomotor and recirculating-ball leadscrew
Spindle motor	Customer selection; HF spindles recommended
Machine table	Fitted standard with vacuum grid table; other options available
Tool changing	Choice of manual or automatic
Tool holder	Depends on spindle motor
Engraving head	Available as an option
Dimensions	Depends on machine model
Weight	Depends on machine model
Power	380 V, but depends on accessories
Included software	ColiDrive
Optional accessories	Camera, acoustic/safety enclosure, T-slot table, power switch, etc.

Software: powerful and user-friendly

The CMR machines are supplied with two power software packages: ColiDrive and ColiLiner. They collectively form an integrated whole and make the CMR machines a powerful tool for every workshop.

ColiDrive is the Colinbus user interface. It makes working with a Colinbus machine easy. This intuitive tool enables you to operate a machine without knowing anything about G-code or any other form of machine mumbo–jumbo. Everything is done visually, including placement of the material to be machined as well as importing and positioning the drawing. The only other thing you have to do is to press the Start button.

However, professional users also enjoy working with ColiDrive, because it’s equally possible to work with direct code import or a combination of the two methods. This means that there are practically no restrictions, and people will all types of professional backgrounds feel comfortable with the machine.

ColiDrive enables you to do more than just import drawings and operate the machine. For example, you can mill shapes or drill holes without using a CAM package or writing a single line of code. The powerful database integrates all the packages in the group and monitors tool wear. The Project Explorer keeps track of all the data of an imported file, so you always know exactly which machining operations have been performed.

Additional ColiDrive capabilities::

• Importing G-code with automatic detection of positive and negative coordinates.
• Direct input of all True Type Fonts present on the computer, which can be milled without any involvement of a CAM package.
• Visualisation of the machining operations with colour-coded milling depth.
• Machining operations can be interrupted at any desired place or time in order to perform another job, after which you can continue from where you left off.
• An integrated obstacle database where you can enter any desired shape anywhere on the machine to create a protected area.
• Dozens of optimisation functions that dramatically accelerate machining operations.
• Remote support for the software and the machine puts an end to long telephone calls and e–mail ping-pong.

General

The purpose of ColiCAM software package is to calculate and generate toolpaths for machining of various objects on milling machines.

Source data for calculation and generation of toolpaths are drawings of objects to be machined. These drawings are usually created with help of various CAD software packages. One of such packages is AutoCAD from Autodesk. For farther processing by ColiCAM, the completed drawings have to be exported to a disk file in one of supported data formats. The task of exporting graphics of the drawing is usually a part of CAD software.

Current version of ColiCAM may import drawing images in following formats

• Autodesk Drawing Exchange Format (DXF)
• Hewlett Packard Graphic Language (HP-GL)

The procedure for generating of complete machining program consists of following steps:

• Import of drawing image in one of supported formats (DXF or HP-GL)
• Optional editing of imported drawing − for example it may necessary to remove redundant graphical elements or interactively close selected open shapes
• Setting up general parameters like stock dimensions, preferred origin of coordinates and eventually default machining parameters
• Creating machining geometries by selecting shapes from imported drawing
• Defining toolpaths by selecting required tools from Tool Database
• Applying machining strategies and setting up individual machining parameters for each defined toolpath
• Ordering program to calculate trajectories for defined toolpath
• Output (to a disk file) of resulting machining program in the format accepted by milling machine

Current version of ColiCAM may output machining programs in one of following formats:

• Generic
• RS274GC G-CODE
• Basic ISO CNC code
• Hewlett Packard Graphic Language (HP-GL)

Project database

ColiCAM stores all information about machined object in project database that at any stage can be saved to disk file. Internal precision (minimal unit) of the database is 1/100000 mm. Coordinates and sizes are stored with this precision. Angular values are stored with precision of 1/1000 degree. The software can process drawings with maximal size of 4400 by 4400 millimeters.

Project Database consists of imported drawing, selected geometries and calculated toolpaths trajectories. This information is presented graphically on computer screen. Project Database includes also numerical data. These data are several types of parameters that are set while preparing machining program for output. Current parameters’ settings are presented (and may be at any timed modified) in tabular form on various pop-up dialogs.

Diagram below presents the structure of ColiCAM project database:

Machining strategies

Algorithms applied to calculation of toolpath trajectories depend on topology of shapes transferred to geometry and selected machining strategy.

Following machining strategies are available in ColiCAM:

• FACE − used to take out material to specified depth over whole surface of the stock.

• PARALLEL − used to take out material to specified depth within boundaries of closed shapes or between boundaries of the stock and boundaries of closed shape inside the stock. This strategy is always combined with PROFILE as then next step in order to finish outline of the take-out.

• SPIRAL − used to take out material to specified depth within boundaries of closed shapes. Toolpath trajectory for this strategy is calculated is such way that finishing outlines with PROFILE is not necessary.

• PROFILE − used to cut out outline of closed shapes internally or externally.

• SLOT − to cut along outlines of shapes (closed and open) with or without offset of ½ of tool diameter.

• STROKE FILL − used for taking out material in parallel strokes within boundaries of closed shapes. This strategy is usually applied for machining shapes constructed as strips.

• DRILL − drilling holes

Editing function

Imported drawings are not always suitable for extracting geometries for machining. To solve that problem ColiCAM provides a set of advanced features that allow editing imported drawings. Editing functions tools enable to relocate and transform shapes. There are also functions for constructing shapes for machining from elements of other shapes. Apart from operating on imported shapes, new shapes may be manually added to drawings.

Editing functions can be therefore treated as simple CAD system integrated within ColiCAM. Using these functions the user can actually create drawings of object to be machined directly in ColiCAM, without necessity to import drawings generated by other CAD packages.

Documenting features

Saved to disk project database and generated machining programs are not the only outputs from ColiCAM. Working session may be documented in other three different ways:

• Contents of graphic screen may at any time copied to Clipboard and then pasted as bitmap to other documents
• Project may be printed in any scale on a color or black & white printer
• Build up of machining programs may be stored in plain text file and presented in Notepad