Makino introduced the G5 Grinder horizontal machining center, capable of grinding, drilling, boring and milling all on the same machine. "The biggest advantage of a machine like the G5 is the ability to eliminate non value-added time in the manufacturing process," says Tim Jones, product manager of horizontal machining centers at Makino. "Because you can go from milling to grinding in one machine, you’re not only saving on capital equipment but you’re also able to keep the part in the machine, eliminating all the out-of-cut time that does nothing but add to your costs and lead time." According to the company’s press release, the G5 is a full five-axis machine, with a B-axis of 0.5/1.5 sec (90/180), a C-axis at 100 rpm, a 60-tool automatic tool changer that will hold up to a 8.7"(220mm) diameter grinding wheel. A two-axis coolant nozzle allows the G5 to accommodate variations in wheel diameter and changes in cutting direction while maintaining specific cutting conditions. It also allows for intermittent rotary dressing, an NC controlled, hydraulically-powered feature that redresses the wheel to reestablish profile geometry on the cutting wheel. The G5 features one-piece X , Y and Z -covers, proven 1-Series tool changing systems, and 10 micron cyclonic secondary filtration. Features that assist with thermally stability include an integral spindle with the cooling jacket linked to the bed temperature for part consistency, a coolant chiller to maintain high precision machining, core-cooled ball screws in all axes, and the use of high volume high pressure coolant.