Expand Machinery Mill-Turn Enables Flexible Turning Performance

Source: Expand Machinery

Expand Machinery showcases its Gen Turn CW 42MY, is a small footprint eight-axis mill-turn lathe with a full-sized counter spindle and features milling capability on all 24-tool stations. A Y-axis is featured on both 12-station tool turrets for off centerline milling and drilling. This universal design allows the flexibility of both efficient chuck and bar work and is well suited to provide for a completed part in just one operation. Both 42 mm, (1-5/8") bar, and 52mm (2") bar capacity versions are available. Both 6" and 8" chucks can also be used for workholding.

The machine uses the FANUC 0i-TF Plus or the Mitsubishi M830 control and features two fast bi-directional indexing 12-station tool turrets that use the rigid base mounted (BMT) tooling system. The BMT tooling provides for enhanced cutting stability, and far superior tool alignment characteristics over what other tooling systems provide. Internal and external tooling can be mixed on any tooling station for the ultimate in tooling set-up flexibility. The tool count can be easily increased using gang-style tooling by taking advantage of the Y-axis shift on both turrets. 

The dual opposed main and counter spindles are fully synchronized for an accurate workpiece transfer, even on irregular shaped machined surfaces. Both spindles feature a high-performance C-axis that provides 360,000 radial positions, as well as full contouring capability. Even machining four-axis simultaneous contouring features on both spindles can be achieved.  The radial spindle position is accurately secured during cutting by a powerful hydraulic disk brake. Twin Marposs tool setters are standard, and their use helps greatly in reducing setup time, assisting in overall production efficiency. The standard parts catcher utilizes a pick-off arm with twin-gripper fingers that gently places finished parts on the outbound parts conveyor belt for mark-free production, even on sensitive parts.

Dual-wound FANUC motors with built-in spindles provide the maximum cutting torque without suffering the parasitic losses that belt-driven spindles create. This design provides for a high rate of spindle acceleration and deacceleration for reduced part cycle times. The counter spindle has coolant forced through the spindle, and spindle air blast, to clean the collet or chuck jaws to ensure an accurate and secure grip on the next workpiece. Multiple brands of dead-length collet chucks can be utilized for workholding on the machine.