Turning Centers for Heavy, Chatter-Free Cutting and Improved Part Finish

In Booth S-338109, Fives Giddings & Lewis (Fond Du Lac, WI) will feature their V 1600, a mid-range 1,600 mm table vertical lathe from the new V Series product line with machines offering chucks from 800 mm to 2,500 mm. Designed to appeal to a wide range of manufacturers including job shops, the V Series maintains traditional robust structure elements while introducing value-based features aimed at cost savings and productivity enhancement. All V series turning centers incorporate a hydrostatic ram and adjustable cross rail to maximize rigidity for heavy, chatter-free cutting and improved part finish. The infinitely-adjustable cross rail is a programmable positioning axis that allows shops to minimize ram extension while optimizing tool position relative to the part, thereby increasing stiffness and metal removal capabilities. Dual scale feedback delivers precision and ensures parallelism while the hydraulic cylinder elevation and patented clamping system add secure 1,000 kN (225,000 lb) of mechanical clamping force per side. No other vertical turning center offers these high-value features as standard.

Designed based on feedback from a wide range of users, including job shops, the V Series is engineered to be flexible, reliable and cost effective. All models have a compact footprint, and there is no requirement for special foundations. The VLock tooling system provides a stiff interface and uses standard modular tooling. Modular turning tools more than double the taper stiffness compared to 50 taper tooling. “Standard modular tools offer significant cost savings, over proprietary vertical lathe tooling provided on most vertical lathes, as much as $30,000 when tooling a new lathe. Modular tools are also lighter, easier and safer to handle, requiring less time to load and maintain,” explained Peter Beyer, the sales and applications director at Fives Giddings & Lewis. A solid machining platform and operational versatility are inherent in these vertical turning centers, with cast iron base construction and options including live spindle attachments and a C-axis table. “Following our introduction of the 800 mm and 1,000 mm size lathes, job shops and manufacturers in several industries discovered the advantages of V Series rigidity and flexibility. Jet engine builders in particular saw the benefits when machining hard aerospace alloys,” added Beyer. The V Series is designed and built in their Fond du Lac plant.

Fives Giddings & Lewis, 142 Doty Street, Fond Du Lac, WI 54935, 920-921-9400, Fax: 920-906-2522, metal-cutting-composites.fivesgroup.com.