Absolute Machine Tools Showcases Advanced Machining Technology at PMTS 2019

Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. will be showcasing various products at PMTS 2019.

Tech Talk

"When Swiss is not the Answer: Game-Changing Turning Platforms" is the subject of a PMTS 2019 Tech Talk presented by Absolute from 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Greg Knight, Vice President of Sales Production Turning Products Division, and Phillip Judt, Applications Engineer Production Turning Products Division, will outline the evolution of the screw machine industry and its progress from manual to cam machines, Swiss-type equipment and high-tech multi-spindle screw machines.

"As alternatives to these viable but increasingly expensive options, the presenters will describe more efficient and cost-effective methods, including advancements in CNC multi-slide and live tool mill/turn machines," said a company spokesperson.

The presenters will explain how processes performed on multi- and single-spindle screw machine and CNC Swiss-type lathes can be done more efficiently and economically on B-axis mill/turn centers and multi-slide single spindle machines. "The CNC machine tools present multiple tools to the cut for improved cycle times, provide the ability to hold the tightest tolerances and enhanced finishes and enable completed parts to be dropped a single operation," said the spokesperson.

Nexturn SA-20B CNC Swiss Lathe

The Nexturn SA-20B CNC Swiss lathe has a rotary synchronous guide bushing that features up to seven total axes (Z1, X1, Y, Z2, X2, C1, C2) and up to 22 total tools. Bar diameter capacity is 20 mm on the main and sub-spindle, and maximum turning length is 8" (200 mm). The SA-20B is available packaged with a CNC Indexing Tracer 20 magazine barfeeder, providing increased overall value in a 20 mm Swiss machine.

The main 5 HP, 8,000 RPM (10,000 opt.) spindle of the SA-20B has a built-in motor for increased acceleration/deceleration. Full C-axes on both main and sub-spindles with 0.001° positioning and pneumatic disc brake clamping maximize rigidity for milling operations. The synchronous sub-spindle allows simultaneous front- and back-working processes. Live tools with 1.3 HP and 6,000 RPM on the cross-mill unit and 1 HP and 5,000 RPM on the back end face tools provide full drilling and milling ability. ER-16 collets for the live tools provide enhanced rigidity, and rigid tapping is standard.

The CNC Indexing Tracer 20 bar feeder accepts bars from 3 mm to 26 mm (0.118" - 1.023") diameter and up to 3,600 mm (12') long. Standard features include dual anti-vibration devices to minimize bar whip and permit high RPM turning, patented guide channel design with sound buffering effect to reduce noise and a large magazine tray to allow for unmanned production.

The SA-20B lathe is built for rigidity, accuracy, reliability and ease of use. The highly rigid one-piece cast iron machine bed is designed using FEM software. Powerful motors for both turning and milling deliver ample machining capability. Ultra-precision pre-tensioned ball screws and LM guides produce high accuracy. High speed positioning of 1.260"/min (31,500 mm/min) reduces cycle times.

The synchronous rotary guide bushing features a dual bearing structure with bearing support on both ends. The guide bushing is spline-shaft driven for precision machining of long parts. The machine can be ordered without the guide for short parts, reduced remnant length and the ability to run cold drawn material.

Tongtai VTX-5 VMC

The Tongtai VTX-5 vertical machining center (VMC) is a fixed column, moving table CNC milling and tapping center engineered for high volume, high precision machining. The machine features X-, Y- and Z-axis travels of 20" x 15.7" x 11.8" (508 mm x 398 mm x 300 mm). Roller-type linear slideways maximize rigidity and control machine motion. Class 3, 1" (25 mm)-dia. ball screws with a double nut pre-loaded design permit a standard rapid traverse rate of 2,362 IPM (60 m/min) for all axes and acceleration of 1.2G. An Absolute Pulse Coder (APS) servo system enables the machine to be started from any position.

The VTX machine is equipped with either a 21-tool turret-type or 20-tool arm-type automatic tool changing system. With the 21-station changer, change times are 1.4 seconds tool to tool and 1.9 seconds chip to chip. The 20-tool high-speed arm-type changer reduces tool change times to 0.8 seconds and 1.3 seconds chip to chip.

The machine's standard 7.5 HP, 12,000 RPM direct-drive spindle provides rigid tap speeds up to 6,000 RPM. An optional 24,000 RPM direct drive spindle is designed to deliver high cutting speeds for aluminum and magnesium parts as well as graphite. A BBT-30 (Big Plus dual-contact) taper is standard for rigid milling. Through-spindle coolant capability is standard, as is a spindle chiller. The machine's bed flushing system provides efficient chip removal.

The standard Mitsubishi M80A control features a 10.4" (265 mm) touchscreen with intuitive smart phone type operation and is suitable for a range of applications from production to high speed machining applications.

LICO LNT-42S-S4 Single-Spindle Multi-Slide Screw Machine

The LICO LNT-42S-S4 single-spindle multi-slide screw machine has a 42 mm main spindle with four heavy-duty dovetail and gib-design cross slides that can overlap up to five tools in the cut at one time. Each slide has full 2-axis servo-controlled travel and the ruggedly built screw machine is capable of using either form tools or standard carbide insert tools. Maximum speed of the 20 HP main spindle is 5,000 RPM. "For medium to complex parts, the LNT-42S-S4 can match or beat the speed of cam-driven machines while offering the versatility, finish and tolerances of CNC lathes," said the spokesperson.

A turret-mounted, 5 HP/3,000 RPM pickoff spindle is standard and the base machine model comes equipped with gang slide backworking, dual high-pressure oil pumps, chip and part conveyors and toolholders for all positions. A modular eight-position static backworking turret is optional. The main turret uses VDI-30 live tooling and comes with four live toolholders. The LNTS platform is available in four bar capacity sizes: 36 mm, 42 mm, 51 mm, 65 mm, all with a maximum turning length of 170 mm. All LNTS can be ordered with an optional Y-axis gang tooled cross slide for both static and live tools.

Eight-Axis, 32 mm Nexturn SA-32PYII CNC Swiss-Type Lathe

The eight-axis, 32 mm Nexturn SA-32PYII CNC Swiss-type lathe with CNC Indexing 12' Tracer 51V hydrodynamic magazine bar feeder will also be demonstrated. The standard exchangeable rotary synchronous guide bushing of the SA-32PYII allows changeover from guide bushing to non-guide bushing configuration depending on the application and material. The non-guide bushing mode allows for the use of less expensive non-ground material and reduces remnant length, saving material costs. The SA-32PYII is available packaged with a CNC Indexing Tracer 51V 12' magazine bar feeder, providing increased overall value in a 32 mm Swiss machine.

The SA-32PYII lathe features up to eight total axes (Z1, X1, Y1, Z2, X2, Y2, C1, C2) and up to 25 total tools. Machining capacity is 32 mm on the main and sub-spindle. Maximum turning length is 210 mm (8") maximum turning length with a guide bushing and 60 mm (2.36") without the guide bushing.

The main 10 HP, 8,000 RPM spindle of the SA-32PYII has a built-in motor spindle for enhanced acceleration/deceleration. Full C-axes on both main and sub spindles with 0.001° positioning and pneumatic disc brake clamping maximize rigidity for milling operations. The 5 HP integral-motor synchronous sub-spindle allows simultaneous front and back working processes.

Live tools with 3 HP and 6,000 RPM on the cross mill unit, and 1.3 HP and 5,000 RPM on the back end face tools, provide increased drilling and milling ability. A range of milling, drilling and tapping can be performed. ER-16 collets for the live tools provide enhanced rigidity. Rigid tapping is standard.

The synchronous rotary guide bushing is spline-shaft driven and features a dual-bearing structure with high accuracy and strong bearing support on both ends. The machine can be changed in about 45 minutes to the non-guide bushing configuration.

The CNC Indexing Tracer 51V bar feeder is engineered for use on both Swiss-style and fixed headstock lathes. It accepts bars from 5 mm to 56 mm (0.196" - 2.204") diameter and up to 3,600 mm (12') long. Standard features include dual anti-vibration devices to minimize bar whip and permit high RPM turning, a polyurethane guide channel design with improved vibration dampening and easier changeover and a large magazine tray to allow for unmanned production.

The SA-32PYII lathe is built for rigidity, accuracy, reliability and ease of use. The highly rigid one-piece cast iron machine bed is designed using FEM software. Powerful motors for both turning and milling deliver enhanced machining capability. The use of ultra-precision pre-tensioned ball screws and LM guides produce high accuracy. High speed positioning of 1,260 IPM reduces cycle times.

LND-65D-S3 11-Axis Mill/Turn Center

"The LICO LND-65D-S3 11-axis mill/turn center, with up to five tools in the cut simultaneously, can produce parts faster than conventional twin spindle, multi-turret machines," said the spokesperson.

The LND-65D-S3 has a bar capacity of 65 mm (2.56"), maximum turning length of 475 mm (18.7") and employs independent 2-axis cross slides that can overlap each other and the turret. An eight-position turret with optional live tooling and Y-axis is standard. The turret works on either the main or the counter spindle, and can perform on-center work on both spindles simultaneously. The 27 HP, 4,000 RPM main spindle is complemented by a 9.4 HP, 5,000 RPM counter spindle. With live tooling on the turret (up to 16 live tools), the LND-65D-S3 changes from a turning center to a machine that can handle cross drilling, tapping, slotting and basic milling.

The LNDD machines are available in 42 mm, 51 mm, 65 mm, 80 mm and 100 mm bar capacities. The LNDD platform comes standard with an independent counter spindle, dual high-pressure oil pumps, chip and part conveyors and toolholders for all positions. The LNDD machines are built with a highly engineered frame and slides for dampening vibration and reducing size and finish variables resulting from such vibration. "The result is a stable process at cycle times that are often 2 to 3 times faster than twin spindle, single turret machines," said the spokesperson.

Quicktech i-42 Ultimate 10-axis Twin Spindle Lathe

The Quicktech i-42 Ultimate 10-axis Twin Spindle lathe with dual B-axes is engineered to carry out highly productive turning, and can also provide complete part machining including complex milling functions.

The i-42 machine features 10 axes, 2 turning spindles, 2 milling spindles, 2 B-axes and a total capacity of 56 tools. A 4-axis (X,Y,Z,B) gang type vertical tool post serves each C-axis spindle. The main spindle has a 15 HP, 6,000 RPM high torque motor. The sub-spindle is equipped with a 7.5 HP, 6,000 RPM high torque integral motor for backworking. The main spindle has a 42 mm bar capacity and the capacity of the sub-spindle is 30 mm (1.18"). Both spindles feature a full continuous C-axis with braking system and are both standard with 42 mm DIN-173E-42B collet chucks. The main and sub-spindle are synchronized for fast and accurate part transfer. Both spindles employ P4 high precision bearings for stability and heavy cutting ability.

A 4-axis gang tooling system consisting of linear X, Y and Z axes plus a rotary B-axis serves each spindle. The main tool post features six O.D. turning tools, five I.D. turning tools and 12 live tools. The sub-tool post features five O.D. turning tools, nine I.D. turning tools and 12 live tools. The live tools are powered by a 2 HP, 4,000 RPM spindle motor and are mounted in a continuous 360° B-axis. Each tool post has a Y-axis for off-center milling operations. Tool change time is near zero, and rigid tapping is standard.

Machine frames and all major components are heavy Meehanite cast iron.

For more information contact:

Courtney Ortner

Absolute Machine Tools, Inc.

7420 Industrial Parkway

Lorain, OH 44053

800-852-7825 / 440-960-6911

sales@absolutemachine.com

www.absolutemachine.com

PMTS Booth 3050