HORIZONTAL BORING MILL OFFERS BIG CAPABILITIES AND PRODUCTIVITY

MAG Giddings & Lewis offers the FT 3500 floor-type horizontal boring mill, which features 10 m (32.8 ft) of X travel and 3.6 m (11.8 ft) of Y travel, but standardized modules allow HBMs to be configured with travels from 4 to 16 m (13.1 and 52.5 ft) and Y axis headstock travel to 5 m (16.4 ft). Modularity allows economical customization, along with industry's fastest machine build and delivery. Two available platforms (FT and ram-style FTR) can be fitted with choice of travels, headstocks, spindle diameters and spindle power, controls, coolant systems, workholding and tool magazines.

An optional attachment changer enables storage and quick change of contouring heads, programmable boring bars, right angle heads and more to speed production. Traveling-column design allows virtually unlimited X-axis travel for processing of large and long workpieces or multiple batch parts, while 20 m/min (787 ipm) rapid traverse rates, among the highest by a large HBM, reduce cycle times. Special-geared AC digital drives maintain high torque and stiffness even at high traverse speeds and feed rates. Standard Y-axis vertical headstock travel starts at 2 m (6.6 ft) with optional travel to 5 m (16.4 ft).

Two floor-type models — the FT and FTR Series — give choices in spindle reach from 800 to 1250 mm (31.5 to 49.2 in). Both feature live spindles providing a programmable axis for drilling and tapping as well as adding reach for boring operations. The Z-axis extension capabilities of the live spindle allow the use of standard shorter tools which are more cost effective and can improve the machine's cutting abilities. Contouring heads or feedout tools can be used with the live spindle, reducing setups and improving cycle times of parts with complex geometries by adding turning capabilities. Standard high-pressure coolant through-the-spindle enhances the cutting process and chip evacuation. All boring mills include G&L's exclusive spindle growth compensation. The Z-axis thermal compensation software dynamically offsets spindle growth, maintaining tight accuracies. To mitigate ram displacement resulting from variations in ram extension and attachment weights, a hydraulically-actuated tension rod system is used. With the dynamic Ram Displacement Comp System, the forces applied to the tension rod are adjustable to counteract the static loads of attachments, correcting for the natural effects of ram extension.

Exceptional rigidity and durability are achieved by cross-ribbed column construction, wide way spreads on column and runway and steel runway fabrication. These design features add structural integrity to resist deflection and minimize vibrations. The resulting rigidity of the cutting platform allows heavy metal removal and it is the foundation of the boring mills' accuracy. Contributing to the high degree of accuracy are standard linear scales, thermal compensation and preloaded axis drives. Positioning accuracy is 0.015 mm (0.0006 in) and repeatability is 0.008 mm (0.0003 in). The hardened and ground preloaded roller guideways used on the G&L horizontal boring mills provide the capacity, friction characteristics, durability and maintainability necessary for high-performance manufacturing. The large, zero-backlash ballscrews are hydraulically preloaded adding to the axis stiffness and thrust performance. The X-axis features an electrically-preloaded rack and pinion drive system. The drive is a gear-driven design, which produces higher torque and reduces maintenance compared to a belt drive system.
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