AS THE WORLD TURNS

MOVE BEYOND TURNING
The EMAG (Atlanta, GA) Platform 250 consists of three basic machine types. The VL 5i in its standard execution is designed for the sub-contractor and the turned-parts manufacturer. The VSC 250 is designed to serve as a front-operated production tool that can be tailored to suit individual machining requirements. The VLC 250 is a cross-operated, vertical manufacturing system with the focus on universal application ? making it ideal for the use of multiple technologies.

Platform 250 has not been designed to conform to just one particular machine type, but to represent the whole range of machines with a chuck diameter of 250 mm. Design engineers have developed a standard that makes it possible to use the same technology modules on all three of the machine types covered. The idea behind the platform follows the design back to the basic machine. One example is the overhead slide, which is of the same design on all machines. Only its performance- and quality-defining components are tailored to suit the individual machining requirement.

The technology modules include, among others, powerful disc-type turrets that can be equipped with live tools if required, milling spindles, grinding spindles for internal and external work, and even multi-technology modules with tool changer. The concept is complemented by a choice of four different work spindles: universal, high precision, high performance and multi-technology. Furthermore, the Z-axis quill can be used in conjunction with either a hydrostatic or a recirculating roller guideway.

The new platform considerably improves the ability to adapt a manufacturing system to new machining requirements. In many cases standardization will ensure that a simple change of tooling modules is all that is needed. The initial investment can therefore be kept as low as possible. A typical example is the subsequent incorporation into the vertical turning machine of an internal grinding spindle to satisfy increased demands for greater precision. In this particular case, the new platform allows for the conversion of a mere turning machine into a combination machine capable of hard turning and grinding. The exceptionally high degree of modular diversity ensures that a great variety of configurations can be realized ? at a justifiable cost ? at a later stage.

From power ratings of 0.5 kW upwards, only energy-efficient eff1-motors with integrated energy recovery system are being used. Furthermore, these new machines are also fitted with low-wattage valves. In fact, the requirement of these valves amounts to just 8 watts, approximately 70 percent less than the rating of conventional valves. Moreover, the hydraulic pack contains an accumulator charging circuit that ensures the pump is only activated when the hydraulic pressure falls below a certain level.

The electrical cabinet also contains some new features. All amplifiers are mounted using through-hole technology. This ensures that the waste heat dissipates into the workshop and the cabinet no longer needs to be air-conditioned. In fact, the electrical cabinets of the Platform 250 machines no longer feature heat exchangers. www.emag.com

BETTER PART ACCURACY AND SURFACE FINISH
Hardinge (Elmira, NY) offers the GS 42 and GS 51 turning centers that feature a unique collet-ready spindle which allows for better part accuracy and surface finish. The optimum new GS series design provides more stability and machining accuracy. The machines have an extra-stable, heavy machine base weighing in at 2,970 lb. This base has a 45 deg feature. The grease lubrication system provides several advantages over lube oil systems including: No oil skimmer required, no degradation of water base coolants, environmentally friendly, and improves overall machine maintenance. www.hardingeus.com

HIGH-SPEED, HIGH-PERFORMANCE TURNING
High Accuracy and Thermal Stability
The Haas Automation (Oxnard, CA) ST-30 turning center was designed to be extremely rigid, highly accurate and very thermally stable. All castings were optimized using finite element analysis (FEA) to produce the most rigid designs, while improving chip and coolant flow, and simplifying maintenance and service. The spindle head features a compact, symmetric design for thermal stability and rigidity, and the 45 deg wedge design greatly increases the tool-mounting envelope and improves chip flow.

The ST-30 has a maximum cutting capacity of 21 in x 26 in, with maximum swings of 31.75 in over the front apron and 20.75 in over the cross slide. The spindle bore is 3.5 in, with a bar capacity of 3 in. The machine's 30 hp vector dual-drive spindle spins to 3,400 rpm, and provides 275 ft-lb of torque. For heavy cutting operations, an optional 2-speed gearbox is available that boosts torque to 840 ft-lb. On-the-fly wye-delta switching yields a wide constant-horsepower band for constant surface feed cuts.

The ST-30 features an A2-6 spindle nose and comes equipped with a 10 in hydraulic 3-jaw chuck. A 12-station bolt-on style tool turret is standard, with a 12-station VDI turret or 12-station hybrid VDI/BOT turret available as options. A high-speed version of the new turning center, the SS-30, is equipped with a 4,800 rpm spindle, and features 1,200 ipm rapids.

More Bar Capacity, Same Footprint
For shops wanting more bar capacity without moving up to a larger-footprint lathe, Haas offers a big-bore option for its ST-30 turning center. The new ST-30 Big Bore features an A2-8 spindle nose and comes equipped with a 12 in hydraulic 3-jaw chuck. It has a 4.62 in spindle bore, with a bar capacity of 4 in ? an increase of 1 in over the standard ST-30. The machine's 40 hp vector drive spindle spins to 2,400 rpm, and provides 1400 ft-lb of cutting torque through a 2-speed gearbox. On-the-fly wye-delta switching yields a wide power band for constant surface feed cuts.

The ST-30 Big Bore has a maximum cutting capacity of 21 in x 26 in, with maximum swings of 31.75 in over the front apron and 20.75 in over the cross slide. A 12-station bolt-on style tool turret is standard, with options for a 12-station VDI turret or 12-station hybrid VDI/BOT turret. Standard equipment on the ST-30 Big Bore includes rigid tapping, a 15 in color LCD monitor and USB connectivity. Other available options include a belt-type chip conveyor, hydraulic tailstock, automatic tool probe, live tooling with C axis, an automatic parts catcher, high-pressure coolant systems, and much more.

The ST-30 Big Bore turning center is designed to be extremely rigid, highly accurate and very thermally stable. All castings were optimized using finite element analysis (FEA) to produce the most rigid designs, while improving chip and coolant flow, and simplifying maintenance and service. The big-bore spindle head features a compact, symmetrical design for thermal stability and rigidity, and the 45 deg wedge design greatly increases the tool-mounting envelope and improves chip flow.

High Speed Turning
Like the ST-30, the Haas ST-20SS turning center was designed to be extremely rigid, highly accurate and very thermally stable. The spindle head features a compact, symmetric design for thermal stability and rigidity, and the 45 deg wedge design greatly increases the tool-mounting envelope and improves chip flow.

The machine provides a maximum cutting capacity of 10 in x 20.5 in, with maximum swings of 31.75 in over the front apron and 20.75 in over the cross slide. The ST-20SS's A2-6 spindle nose has a 3.0 in spindle bore and a bar capacity of 2.0 in. It is equipped with a 8.3 in hydraulic 3-jaw chuck. The machine's 30 hp vector dual-drive spindle spins to 5000 rpm, and provides 115 ft-lb of torque at 1380 rpm. On-the-fly wye-delta switching yields a wide constant-horsepower band for constant surface feed cuts. Rapids are 1200 ipm on the Z axis and 945 ipm on the X axis.

Standard equipment on the ST-20SS includes rigid tapping, a 15 in color LCD monitor and a USB port. Other available equipment includes a belt-type chip conveyor, hydraulic tailstock, automatic tool probe, live tooling with C axis, an automatic parts catcher, high-pressure coolant systems, and much more. www.HaasCNC.com

8-AXIS GANG TOOL BAR MACHINE
WITH SUB-SPINDLE
Intertech Worldwide (East Hampton, CT) offers the Model 42-12 LTSS 8-axis CNC Gang Tool Bar Machine with 1-5/8 in diameter bar capacity, featuring a 10/15 hp Servo main spindle drive with 4000 rpm standard, 6,000 rpm optional, a 5/7.5 hp Servo sub-spindle drive and Mitsubishi Servo drives for all axis movements. The machine has two unique independent two-sided tool platens containing six live tools each, three radial and three axial, eight stationary drill holders, (four and four), nine turning holders (five and four), plus a separate cutoff tool holder.

The incorporation of the third axis on each platen combined with gang tooling provides a fast, highly productive alternative to standard 2-axis gang tool lathes or lathes with turrets. This design enables the use of (30) tools in a small area minimizing the travel distance from tool to tool. The addition of the Y axis also allows fast and easy tool centerline adjustment through simple tool offsets. The main spindle and sub-spindle are both servo driven with full C axis capability and can be programmed for profile synchronization. The sub-spindle is also servo controlled for axial travel.

The control is a Mitsubishi Model M700 Advanced High Performance Control with a 10½ in flat color monitor capable of 12-axis simultaneous interpolation including the two 3-axis tool platens, the live tools and the two C axis spindles. Programming is accomplished using standard G codes and M functions with all canned cycles featuring "fill in the blank" conversational menus. Programs can be added or retrieved on a CF Card, RS232 and Ethernet. The control has up a 230-program capacity. www.intertechworldwide.com

TURNING CATALOG, UNIVERSAL LATHES
KNUTH Machine Tools USA (Lincolnshire, IL) has the 2010 catalog that features more innovative machine tool equipment than ever before, with versatile and robust machining and fabricating equipment that is competitively priced. Machine highlights from the catalog include the powerful BeamCenter CNC for structural steel drilling and sawing; the unsurpassed Quantamill 800, a five-axis, gantry-type CNC machining center; the high-performance Unicenter VHBZ 1100, a combination CNC horizontal and vertical machining center; and the robust Multiturn, a four-axis lathe and milling center.

The company also builds the versatile and robust DL E Series universal lathes for handling heavy-duty fabrication and single part production. Featuring maximum stability and high accuracy, the DL E Series lathes is able to handle everything from rough to fine operations on a wide variety of materials. Equipped with a 5.1 in spindle bore, up to a 79 in swing and a 315 in distance between centers, the DL E Series lathes feature a heavy, cast-iron base and machine bed with strong ribbing to minimize vibrations and improve stability.

Designed with a balance of performance and functionality, these lathes come standard with a powerful 30 hp motor to ensure very high chip removal capacity along with induction hardened and grounded guideways to maintain accuracy. Featuring a 3-axis position indicator, the DL E Series includes a glass scale on the compound resulting in increased productivity and valuable time savings. This easy-to-read display with convenient keyboard layout provide operator-specific features including default coordinates, calculator function as well as metric to inch measurement conversions. www.knuth-usa.com

AFFORDABLE 2-AXIS LATHES, VERTICAL MACHINING CENTERS
High Productivity, Affordable Price
The Quick Turn Smart series of 2-axis lathes from Mazak Corporation (Florence, KY) offers high productivity turning at an affordable price. The line's QT-Smart 350 delivers fast axis feed rates, high accuracy and rigidity and a new, user-friendly Mazatrol Smart control, making it ideal for job shops and other high production environments. The headstock features a 12 in chuck, mounted on a 40 hp, 3,300 rpm integrated spindle motor that is optimized for machining performance. It delivers maximum torque of 596 ft-lbs and allows a 4-in bar material to be machined.

The turning center utilizes Roller LM guides on the X and Z axes to ensure high rigidity and smooth cutting at feed rates of 1,811 in/min on the X axis and 1,299 in/min on the Z axis. The machine also features X axis ballscrew pretension for high accuracy, as well as a 12-position, high-speed, non-lift drum turret for rapid tool indexing. The Mazatrol Smart control simplifies turning operations on the Quick Turn Smart series. Mazatrol Smart is designed for ease of operation and offers a 10.4 in LCD color display and the familiar QWERTY keyboard. A pointing device, acting like a mouse, and USB port for downloading programs are also at the operator's fingertips.

Conversational part programming can be accomplished in Mazatrol language. Mazatrol Smart control also accepts EIA/ISO programs. The QT-Smart 350 also features an NC servo-driven tailstock to enable automated processes. The tailstock is fully programmable, driving the W axis on its own AC servomotor and ballscrew. Through the part program, the tailstock will retract to a known position and its center makes contact with the part with consistent holding pressure. Further, because of its positive independent drive system, the tailstock can be used to drill holes on a shaft centerline adding versatility to the jobs it can process.

Working Long or Heavy Work Pieces

Mazak's versatile VTC-200G vertical machining center is once again available for part production of long or heavy work pieces. The vertical machining center is equipped with a long, fixed working table (154.3 in x 20.1 in) that accommodates up to 4,600 lb and can be partitioned to allow for machining on one side while an additional setup takes place on the other. This enables operation similar that of a pallet changer but with additional flexibility.

The VTC-200G's full traveling column design provides maximum rigidity, reduces operator fatigue and allows convenient accessibility to the working table and work pieces for safe and easy part loading/unloading. The VTC-200G is outfitted with a powerful 40 taper, 25 hp, 12,000 rpm digital AC spindle motor that ensures increased productivity when machining steel or aluminum. The machining center also features a spindle cooling system for constant temperature control and the minimization of thermal growth. The VTC-200G utilizes a 24-tool servo magazine (48-tool optional) that travels with the column to provide tool change capability anywhere along the length of the X axis with a tool-to-tool change time of a 4.7 sec. The VTC-200G travels 144 in x 20 in x 20 in on the X, Y and Z axes, and its fixed table can safely manage the machining of a long, structural parts or pipe. An optional NC rotary table is easily accommodated on the table without cable interference.

Ideal for Aerospace and Energy Applications
The VTC-800/30SR vertical machining center from Mazak offers highly versatile machining operation with a unique swing milling spindle and full traveling column and fixed table design. The machining center provides unsurpassed machining stability and is equipped with a 110 deg B axis spindle, which is available at either 12,000 rpm or 18,000 rpm, ensuring high speed, high accuracy positioning over extended periods of operation.

The VTC-800/30SR has a wide, fixed working table (137.8 in x 32.3 in) to allow for increased flexibility and reduced cycle times. The table can be partitioned to allow for machining on one side while an additional setup takes place on the other, or outfitted with an optional rotary table (C axis) to perform 5-axis simultaneous machining. The machining center also easily accommodates extremely long or heavy work pieces (5,512 lb max), making it ideal for aerospace and energy applications. The VTC-800/30SR travels 118.1 in x 31.5 in x 28.3 in on X, Y and Z axes and is equipped with a 30-tool (48-tool optional) magazine. www.mazakusa.com