Product category:
Large milling and boring machines (over 2000mm in X)
News Release from: AsquithButler | Subject: Travelling gantry, vertical machining centre
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 May 2007
Travelling gantry machining centre
ordered
UK excavator manufacturer invests in a large capacity, travelling gantry, vertical machining centre to machine front and rear chassis, excavator booms/arms and compact excavator floorpans in India.
The flexibility of a re-engineered Asquith Butler StarCut 400S, travelling gantry, vertical machining centre, in its potential to support up to four excavator product lines, has led to a world leading UK-based manufacturer purchasing the machine for its new manufacturing plant in Pune, India Set to commence operation in July 2007, the StarCut will machine a range of assemblies including front and rear chassis, excavator booms/arms and compact excavator floorpans Installed previously at Alstom Energy, Rugby, UK, where it was in production for five years, the StarCut is of a particularly high specification and has undergone a complete overhaul by Asquith Butler engineers to 'as new' standard
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The machine incorporates a 400mm diameter vertical ram, fitted with three standard attachments including: 1 deg auto-indexing head for fifth axis work, right angle spindle head, in-line milling and boring head, and 600mm, long reach head for access to certain chassis components.
A gantry mounted carousel management system is incorporated - housing up to four ram-mounted heads and providing fully automated head changing.
Other main features include: 80 position automated tool changer, 40kW/3,000 rev/min spindle, Siemens 840D controller, Renishaw probing, as well as special fixture and pallet system for handling certain chassis assemblies.
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Additionally, in order for the machine to give optimum performance and reliability in the Indian sub-continental climate - where temperatures often reach 50 deg C, the StarCut has been 'tropicalised'.
The existing fan and filter system on the machine electrical panel has been replaced with air conditioning, the operator control console has been fitted with an air conditioning unit, the hydraulic system has been fitted with an oil cooler, and the machine cooling system has been fitted with a chiller unit.
Currently equipped with a 3m X-axis, plans are in place for this to be extended to 7m once the StarCut gets ahead of production.
The order follows on from the installation of a 12m long Asquith Butler PowerCentre travelling column, horizontal machining centre at the customer's UK earthmover manufacturing plant in 2006.
Building on this highly successful installation, Asquith Butler managing director, Paul Hinchliffe, made a sales presentation to the customer in summer 2006 on the qualities of the StarCut and its ability to meet their machining requirements.
The customer then went firm with the order in December 2006.
Hinchliffe commented: "Asquith Butler has built an excellent working relationship with the customer following the installation of the PowerCentre.
Following on from that, the successful negotiation of the StarCut 400 agreement not only reinforces our relationship, but also shows to the wider world the world class qualities of our machining centres, and, the 'can-do' abilities of our designers and engineers.".
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