TURN/MILL CENTER BOASTS FASTEST CYCLE TIME IN THE INDUSTRY

Methods Machine Tools Inc. (Sudbury, MA) recently introduced the Nakamura-Tome WY-250 Multi-Tasking Turning/Milling Center with unsurpassed milling capabilities. An opposed two-spindle, 2-turret construction features a unique upper and lower Y-axis capability for milling or drilling simultaneously on both turrets and a new Super Mill drivetrain producing high horse power and torque for milling speeds up to 6,000 rpm. The machine includes 25 hp and 20 hp (left and right) spindle motors with Super Mill drivetrain milling motors on the upper and lower turrets, offering 10 hp 40 Nm.

To easily accommodate these speeds, this machine tool weighs 26,460 lb and offers high rigidity. In addition, a 60 deg slant bed offers easy access to the work and tooling. The machine is ideal for a broad range of applications, including diversified small-lot production to mass production. "The WY-250 offers a milling and turning solution with more horsepower and torque than competitive machines. When combined with the dual Y-axis, very aggressive chip removal rates are obtained along with the ability to perform one-hit machining that reduces operations and cuts cycle times by up to 50 percent," explains Richard Parenteau, director of application development at Methods Machine.

The WY-250 is the latest machine in the Nakamura-Tome WT Series that provides new and innovative capabilities. The system includes 24 rotating, milling tool stations. Two 12-station turrets with half-index capability (48 total) is standard. Offering extensive capacity, the system features a maximum turning diameter of 8.5 in (215 mm) and a turning length of 23 in (580 mm). Bar capacity on the left spindle is 2.6 in (65 mm) and on the right is 2 in (51 mm). Spindle speeds reach up to 4,500 min-1 (left) and up to 5,000 min-1 (right).  Slide travel on the X1 / X2-axis is 6.3 in (160.5 mm) / 6.3 in (160 mm), on the Z1 / Z2-axis is 23 in (580 mm) / 23 in (580 mm) and on the Y-axis upper turret / lower turret is ± 2 in (50 mm) / – 2 in (50 mm), + .8 in (20 mm).

For efficient operations, the system includes functionality to facilitate multi-tasking programming and set-up, reducing fixture costs of complex parts and production stops. The WY-250 System is offered in a compact footprint with dimensions (W x L x H) of 175 in (4436 mm) x 105 in (2674 mm) x 94 in (2395 mm). Manual Guide i (conversational programming) simulation and optimization software is standard on this system for post processing/simulation processes.

Methods Machine Tools, Inc., 5 Union Avenue, Sudbury, MA 01776, 978-443-5388, Fax: 978-440-9405, www.methodsmachine.com .