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Ward has universal milling head from Soraluce

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Nov 4, 2008

Spanish milling centre specialist Soraluce has announced a 32kW milling head with 0.001deg by 0.001deg indexing for accurate one-hit milling.

Soraluce offers a range of fixed-table travelling column (SL, SP, SM series), floor-type (FP, FS, FR) and travelling table (TL, TR, TF) milling centres.

The new milling head is the latest enhancement to a choice of automatic indexing heads, floor and angle plates, and auxiliary and CNC rotary and tiling tables that enable Soraluce machines to handle all types of single set up, multi-axis milling tasks - from heavy-duty cutting through to finish machining.

With indexing in 0.001deg steps, the 32kW head complements a variety of optional automatic indexing heads (plus automatic head changing facilities) having different levels of capabilities.

For example, the 30kW automatic indexing head has a torque rating of 1,240Nm and two indexing joints - one vertical to the spindle centreline and another at 45deg, capable of positioning in both rotating planes at 2.5-second increments.

The 37kW orthogonal head is rated at 1,410Nm and, again, has two similar indexing joints and can be positioned at 10 micron in either plane.

Fixed boring heads rated at 30kW and 37kW are also available.

With electro-spindles, Soraluce said that users are promised fast production cycles, high quality surface finishes and 'dual' machining capabilities.

Plus, by effectively 'doubling up' machine capacity users can rough and finish with the same spindle or quickly swap the unit with the standard automatic indexing head arrangement used for heavy metal removal.

The 'cold' rotor also extends the lifetime of the bearings - equating to a spindle life of at least 7,000 hours compared with the usual 3,000 hours available from an asynchronous unit.

This is courtesy of the very low levels of vibration generated by the low-inertia unit, and its ability to achieve balance independent of both speed and power.

The head is available exclusively from UK agent Ward CNC.