Product category:
CNC automatic lathes
News Release from: Star Micronics GB | Subject: ECAS-20T mill-turn automatic at MACH 2008
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 February 2008
Sliding headstock automatic has three
turrets
A sliding headstock CNC mill-turn automatic lathe, with three turrets, can dramatically reducing cycle times for 'one-hit' machining of complex components up to 20mm diameter.
Star Micronics GB will be showing its 12-axis CNC, sliding-headstock mill-turn automatic for the first time in the UK at MACH 2008 Depoloying three independently turrets cutting simultaneously, the Star ECAS-20T is capable of dramatically reducing cycle times for one-hit machining of complex components up to 20mm diameter, said the company
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 Jul 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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Managing director of Star Micronics GB, Bob Hunt, told manufacturingtalk.com: "This new Star lathe is not for the financially faint-hearted, but if a company is manufacturing the right kind of components that play to the strengths of the machine, it can really eat the work and make handsome returns".
He said: "In such cases, there will be no problem justifying the capital investment and the lathe has the potential to generate a lot of profit for the user".
* Ergonomics upgraded - the ECAS-20T is similar in design to a 32 mm bar capacity ECAS model introduced in 2004, which has sold well in Europe and North America.
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Magazine feeds small diameter, full-length bars
Designed for feeding sliding-head and fixed-head automatic lathes with bar in the diameter range 2 to 16 mm, the new Turbo 2-16 has been added to the lower end of FMB's standard bar magazine range.
With the latest introduction, Star has taken the opportunity to upgrade the ergonomics to improve access, visibility and operability.
The lathe has identical 5.5kW (3.7kW) /10,000 rev/min motors driving the main and counter spindles, each of which has a C-axis.
Headstock stroke is 350mm, allowing parts up to that length to be produced in a single chucking.
* Opposed twin turrets - opposed twin turrets on the left serving the main spindle enable complex machining including turning, milling, cross-hole drilling or deep-hole drilling with high-pressure coolant.
At the same time, the right hand tool turret for rear-endworking allows complex machining similar to that available at the front end to complete the process operation.
All turrets have eight live stations, each of which is able to accept up to three tools.
The two turrets mounted above the spindle centreline are positioned in X and Y while the lower, left hand turret has the added feature of an axis in Z.
Spindle cooling and refrigerated coolant minimise spindle growth and the effects of heat generated by power-driven tools.
On ECAS-20T lathe type A, the backworking headstock moves only in the Z direction towards and away from the main spindle.
Type B additionally offers movement in the vertical direction, at 90 deg to the spindle centreline, allowing eccentric components of complicated shape to be picked up for reverse end-working.
In all controlled axes, rapid feed rate has been increased to 30m/min, which is about 1.7 times faster than on the ECAS-32T, while acceleration/deceleration is also faster, further reducing non-cutting times.
* Energy saved - to lessen the machine's environmental impact, standby consumption of electricity has been reduced by up to 37% using an energy-saving hydraulic unit.
RoHS-compliant components have been introduced wherever possible, virtually eliminating the presence of hazardous metals and plastics in the electrical and electronic equipment.
* High speed cycles - the ECAS-20T benefits from Star's advanced motion control system, whereby programming is carried out off-line for relatively simple turning operations, resulting in very high-speed cycles on the machine.
Conventional computer numerical control continues to be used for more complex operations, programming being in ISO either remotely or at the machine control.
For parts involving a combination of simple and complex operations, the cycle can be made up from both motion control programming and traditional ISO format.
Running the part program on the machine is electronically controlled; there are no hydraulic systems.
This allows tight synchronisation between axis movements, virtually eliminating idle times and increasing productivity further.
The software provides a full suite of programming tools including the ability to take geometry developed on CAD systems.
On-screen 3D simulation is available to check both machining geometry and collision/interference, while accurate calculation of the machining cycle time is also available.
* Star Micronics GB at MACH 2008, NEC, Birmingham, UK, April 21-25, Hall 5, Stands 5208 and 5248.
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