Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Flat bed electronic lathes have extensive memories

Top seller in the Pinacho electronic lathe range is the Mustang, which is now available from Traub Heckert UK of Brackley.

Top seller in the Pinacho electronic lathe range is the Mustang, which is now available from Traub Heckert UK of Brackley. The Spanish machine tool builder ships some 300 lathes each month and has appointed Traub Heckert to capitalise on its turning application engineering expertise, sales and service support in the UK. The Mustang is available in two capacities in the standard 200 and 225 versions which reflects centre height over the flat bed.

Between centre distance options are 1,000mm and 1,500mm on both machines while a heavier duty C400 version can be specified with 2,000mm and 5,000mm between centres.

Swing over the 400-450 HB hardened and ground bed is 400mm and 450mm respectively.

While main spindle power is 7.5kW, the machines have an automatic change between low and high range at 700 revs/min.

The highest spindle speed is 3,000 revs/min and X and Z axis rapid traverse rates are 10m/min.

Central to the Pinacho machine concept is the latest Fagor 8055TC control with high capacity memory.

The control also provides a constant cutting speed where the automatic range change is initiated with the two speed gearbox.

The high resolution graphics screen provides a choice of visualisation zones and zoom with high level solid and trajectory graphical simulation of turning and profiling cycles.

Through electronic handwheels, manual operation is ergonomic and simple and the operating resolution of the handwheels can be changed at will.

Macro or canned routines of most frequently used turning cycles can be called from memory and used in conjunction with the positioning handwheel while a profile editor automatically creates the finished program.

For subsequent part production, a full CNC operation can be performed direct from memory.

Part of the Traub Heckert specification is the inclusion of a 'ready to run' package with chuck and quick-change tooling system.

With this tooling system operators will be able to achieve higher productivity and more accurate and consistent tool exchanges.

Alternatively, the Mustang can be purchased with an eight-station VDI 30 tooling automatic turret.