Three-Turret Lathe Takes Off

Three-turret lathe takes off Andrew Allcock visited the Mori Seiki Open House in Paris last month for a glimpse of its new NZ Series turning centre. Shown as a pre-release model, orders have already been taken t Italy’s BIMU machine tool exhibition on show at the Paris Open House event Ain October, Mori Seiki’s new NZ series (picture, right), while the smaller model turning centres impressed to the extent feeds bar of 52 mm diameter. that seven orders were placed there and Top-of-the-range machines offer the then for the top-of-the-range NZ2000 lowest possible cycle times due to their T3Y3. At JIMTOF last month, it was a ability to balance main and sub-spindle similar story as the machine attracted work with the help of the third turret. strong interest. Both shows hosted a pre- This is bolstered by the speed and release machine (the ‘real thing’ was productivity of the machines’ various under final test and modification back in hardware and software elements. These Japan) with order acceptance for this include Mori Seiki novelties that also high volume production lathe series feature on other machines in its the officially stated as January 2007. range. What is delivered is not only It is a testament to both Mori Seiki speed but also accuracy – 5 microns and the reliability of machine tool continuous accuracy, according to Ralf components generally, that such Riedemann, Europe engineering confidence can be shown in a new department vice president. machine tool so soon. That new models, made in Japan, are sold and bought NOVEL FEATURES globally with such confidence is Aimed at car parts, electric equipment, something that would have been and hydraulic/pneumatic equipment, unthinkable a few years ago. for example, novelties include Mori So what is it that the NZ series is Seiki’s patented turret with a built-in offering users? Well, fully specced (like motor, first seen on its NL series (see The rapid traverse rate of 50 m/min the seven ordered at BIMU) it is a 12-axis, Machinery, 4 June, 2004), of which to for the sub-spindle cuts idle time during main/sub-spindle, three-turret machine, date 5,000 units have been sold, revealed parts transfer and is supported by x- and with each turret fitted with Mori Seiki’s Mr Riedemann. This design minimises y-axis rapid traverse rates of 30 and 20 own patented built-in motor to drive vibration and heat generation, reduces m/min, respectively. Also supporting tools and featuring y-axis motion of by half the number of parts in the high processing speeds is the company’s +65/-45 mm. Although the turrets each assembly and supports both high speed MAPPS III control. This automatically have 12 positions, the machine can carry and high power output. So rotary tool optimises the three turrets’ movements up to 60 tools when gang tooling is used. maximum power is 7.5 kW – “the largest while also providing ‘skip’ functions that But the machine can be supplied in in its class” – with a maximum spindle allow commands to be carried out in various guises, the simplest of which is a speed of 6,000 rpm (optionally parallel rather than in sequence. For two-spindle, two-turret machine with no 12,000 rpm). example, spindle start and rapid traverse y-axis capability. Overall, there are 10 Special toolholders support the – this saves time since spindle speed variants across the two-machine range – delivery of this power. The NZ exploits drops when one process finishes. the 6 and 8 inch chuck NZ1500 and the same toolholders used on the NL The MAPPS III control also offers a NZ2000, respectively. They are high series which support the use of face mills complete interference check in three production, high volume machines with of 80 mm diameter and a milling power dimensions for spindles, work, soft jaws, bar work the main target. The NZ2000 virtually indistinguishable from 40 taper tools, holders and turrets. Machine has a 65 mm bar capacity, like the model machining centres. models and standard tool model data are December 2006 I www.machinery.co.uk 26 TURNING installed as standard. In addition, jaw and tool models are simply and automatically set from soft jaw forming and tool length set-up data. Collision detection operates in both automatic and manual operation modes. Attention has also been given to swarf evacuation. The wires and pipes for turrets 1 and 2 are located inside the machine cover, avoiding chip traps As for the lower turret, turret 3, a common problem on lathes with lower turrets is the build up of swarf (and hence heat) as material collects on the slideway mechanisms’ guards. The Mori Seiki answer is a turret mounted on an octagonal ram to allow better chip flow around the obstacle. And while the T3Y3 is obviously the focus of attention, Mori Seiki claims that a two-turret, two-spindle specification version will reduce machining time by approximately 30 per cent compared with conventional machines.I ℀ Enter 120 at www.machinery.co.uk/enquiry www.machinery.co.uk G December 2006 27.

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