UK CNC lathe builder moves into mill-turn centres

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Feb 6, 2004

'One-hit' machining technology is about to take the well-proven Colchester Tornado 'value for money' philosophy into a new production arena

'One-hit' machining technology that takes the well-proven Colchester Tornado 'value for money' philosophy into a new production arena, providing mill/turning solutions in a single metal cutting cycle that would previously have involved multiple operations on different machines, will be one of the major highlights of the Colchester Lathe presence at MACH 2004.

MACH 2004 will see the world launch of the new M5 designated sub-spindle version of the much acclaimed Tornado M-Series driven tool 120 mill/turn centre, Colchester Lathe's first exhibition showing of the Fanuc controlled MultiTurn 4000 large capacity CNC lathe with Manual Guide programming, a Tornado 220M driven tool machine with new bar feed system, a 'Lights-out' unmanned Tornado A50 machining cell and a Combi K2 slant bed lathe.

The new four-axis Tornado 120 MS with driven tool turret and sub-spindle will be shown in its up to 210mm diameter, 15kW chucking variant with on-the-fly kissing spindle transfer of components to the 5.5kW sub-spindle to demonstrate 'one-hit' mill/turning sequences at each chuck position.

Although orders have already been taken and machines supplied for the smaller capacity MultiTurn flat bed lathes, the new large capacity 554mm diameter by 2000mm 4000 machine with 11kW spindle is new.

Like the MultiTurn 1000 and 2000, the new 4000 combines the full CNC lathe capability for repeat automatic cycles while maintaining the flexibility and functionality of an electronic and manual lathe.

Shown with an eight station electric turret, this very competitive priced machine will be demonstrating Manual Guide programming for a wide range of chucking and shaft type turning requirements.

A slant-bed Combi K2, which is equally useable for single part or low batch repeat cycles, will also be under power emphasising its quick setting and simple programming capability.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the production spectrum, unmanned turning will be demonstrated on the two-axis Tornado A50 CNC lathe 'Lights-out' turning package featuring a new 65mm bar feed system and including tool monitoring, production scheduling, in-process gauging with feed-back correction.

MACH 2004 - NEC Birmingham, UK - April 19-23 2004, Hall: 5 Stand: 5160.