Product category:
CNC lathes
News Release from: Colchester-Harrison | Subject: 'Lights Out' unmanned turning package
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 December 2001
Tornadoes carry on turning in the dark
The 'Lights Out' unmanned turning package developed by Colchester for its Tornado range of lathes is now available on the latest two-axis 220 and three-axis 220M as well as existing A-Series. machines
The 'Lights Out' unmanned turning package developed by Colchester for its Tornado range of lathes is now available on the latest two-axis 220 and three-axis 220M as well as existing A-Series machines in A50 and A90 specifications The Lights Out package comprises the Colchester developed MBF 1000 integrated bar feed, swarf conveyor, tool monitoring and sister tool replacement, in-process gauging and production scheduling software in a purpose-developed competitively priced unit
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 5 Jul 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Improved lathe at even more attractive price
The Tornado 220 two-axis CNC lathe range is faster, heavier by almost 20 per cent and more rigid, to provide a consistent turning operation from part to part
Solid base on which to turn one-offs
Colchester has combined the stability of a solid base and an advanced control and software package into the Combi K-Series CNC lathe for one-off components or batch production.
With the four Tornado models, bar up to 65mm can now be machined.
In the case of the new three-axis 220 M, with its six driven tool positions and full C-axis spindle with disc brake clamping, users can now incorporate certain machining centre or drill spindle operations such as drilling and tapping or milling into a single unmanned turning operation.
This capability creates all the advantages of lead time reduction and lowered tooling costs by making parts out of bar instead of forgings, castings or billets.
The MBF 1000 bar magazine is fully integrated with the Fanuc control on the Tornado range.
It has no mechanical stops, takes minutes to change over from say hexagon to round bar and programming is quick by using dialogue input.
As each bar is measured, the onboard software computes the number of pieces from each bar and recalculates when to stop the automatic machining cycle.
The production schedule software provides direct on-machine control over batches while the tool monitoring, based on axis torque loading, will initiate sister tool replacement from the 12 station VDI turret or stop the machine if the problem is deemed more serious.
Through the on-board Renishaw LTO2 optical transmission probe, workpiece accuracy can be monitored, tool offsets automatically updated or the machine stopped, if a problem is detected.
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