Schaeffler Aerospace opts for WFL MillTurn technology

With around 600 employees, Schaeffler Aerospace in Schweinfurt develops and manufactures high-precision roller bearing systems for the aerospace industry. To help master this activity, the company has purchased a total of six WFL MillTurn machines in recent years, the latest of which is an M50 MillTurn with automation cell.

Prior to the purchase of these machines, many machining steps were carried out separately on conventional two-axis turning and five-axis milling machines. Thanks to the MillTurn machines, the company was able to achieve process-integrated complete machining for the first time. Machining steps such as turning, milling drilling and measuring are now carried out on a single system, which reduces set-up times, prevents re-clamping errors and improves machining quality. In the case of average batch sizes between 15 and 50 pieces, the number of set-up processes plays a decisive role.

Says Thomas Memmel, head of technology development at Schaeffler Aerospace: “One of the particular advantages of the MillTurn machines is the integrated B axis. Thanks to swivelling tool positioning, complex component geometries can be created with a small number of tools in just one clamping operation.”

The decision to work with WFL was mainly due to the machines’ rigidity via the slant-bed design, as well as the B axis mounted on a double-bearing. Thanks to the positive experience with this machine concept and WFL’s highly skilled service team, Schaeffler Aerospace has been using WLF machines for almost two decades now.

The finished bearings can be found in modern Rolls-Royce aircraft engines such as the Trent 1000, Trent XWB or Pearl 10X models used in the 787 Dreamliner and A350 airliners or business jets.

More information www.wfl.at

Nortim Precision installs two CNC multi-tasking lathes

Mills CNC has recently supplied precision subcontract specialist, Nortim Precision Engineering, with two FANUC-controlled multi-tasking turning centres from DN Solutions.

The machines, a 12” chuck Puma 3100LSY and an 8” chuck Lynx 2100LSYB – both equipped with sub spindle, Y axis and driven tooling capabilities – were installed at the company’s 7000 sq ft machine shop facility in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire earlier this year.

Since installation, the two lathes have been put through their paces machining a range of high-precision, complex components.

Explains Jon Kemper, Nortim’s manufacturing director: “Mills always seems to have the right specification machines we’re looking for, and can often deliver and install them, from stock, in double-quick time.”

At the start of the year, Nortim Precision was facing a dilemma. An existing bathing and care equipment customer approached Nortim to ask if it could take on extra and regular work machining precision cylindrical parts for its range of height-adjustable baths. However, the cylinder length was beyond Nortim’s existing capacity

Lee Marner, Nortim engineering’s director, takes up the story: “We could see that the 12” chuck/102 mm bar capacity Puma 3100LSY with its 1285 mm maximum turning length and 420 mm maximum turning diameter would be the ideal machine to handle the project.”

Rather than opt for a two-axis version of the Puma 3100L series, the multi-tasking, mill-turn capabilities of the Puma 3100LSY were a key selling point.

With Nortim Precision reaping the productivity benefits from its first multi-tasking lathe, the company decided to invest in a compact multi-axis lathe to handle a majority of its smaller part processing requirements. The answer? A DN Solutions Lynx 2100LSY lathe, an 8” chuck/65 mm capacity lathe with sub spindle, Y axis and driven tools

More information www.millscnc.co.uk

New Emco machine sets benchmark in universal turning

With the new high-performance UniversalTurn 50 turning machine, Emco presents the first model in a forward-looking machine series for the efficient, complete machining of bar and chuck workpieces. The UniversalTurn 50 is said to set new standards in precision, dynamics and flexibility. Thanks to powerful and highly dynamic drive systems, the machine enables higher productivity while maintaining machining accuracy and machine rigidity for complex turn-mill parts.

Emco’s UniversalTurn 50 is a compact turning entre with a bar capacity of 51 mm. It combines Emco technologies with future-orientated developments for efficiency, process reliability and versatility. The highly dynamic drives not only enable fast machining cycles but also ensure the necessary precision and rigidity when simultaneously machining complex turn-mill components. Another strength is the integrated Y axis with long guideway, which ensures stable turning and significantly expands the milling functions.


Depending on the configuration, the machine concept offers a scalable and powerful basis for the precise and economical production of complex parts, reports Emco.

In accordance with the model selected, the manufacturing range includes components for hydraulics and pneumatics, mechanical and plant engineering, automotive and engine technology, as well as medical applications, and fastening and transport technology. In addition, the machine is suitable for producing sliding and rolling bearing parts, along with components in defence technology.

Two different bar loading concepts are available for processing bars. Short bar loaders such as the Irco ILS-MUK offer an economical and space-saving solution for automatic reloading with advantages such as low investment costs and space requirements, low-noise operation and a clean machine shop without oil contamination. Alternatively, 3 m bar loaders from Top Automazioni or FMB enable larger material stocks and greater production autonomy.

More information www.emco-world.com

Spinner expands range of multi-turret CNC lathes

German machine tool manufacturer Spinner Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik, which builds CNC lathes and machining centres at the company’s Sauerlach factory near Munich, has increased its TTS turn-milling centre range. Expanding the size of bar or billet that can be handled, the new 85 and 125 models join the 42 and 65 multi-tasking lathes introduced towards the end of 2021. The sole sales and service agent in the UK and Ireland is Whitehouse Machine Tools.

Launched at the recent EMO 2025 exhibition in Hanover, the TTS 85 and TTS 125 turning centres each have a pair of powerful motor spindles offering a bar capacity of 85 mm (80 kW/930 Nm) and 125 mm (67 kW/1254 Nm) respectively. The chucking of billets up to 500 mm diameter is possible and may be carried out in the sub spindle concurrently with bar working at the main spindle. Customers can specify a tailstock if a twin-spindle machine is not required.

Flexible, modular design allows configurations with two, three or four turrets to meet the user’s precise machining requirements. TTS-Duo, TTS-Duplex and TTS-Twin are different two-turret set ups, with the option of a steady-rest (or two) positioned below the spindle centreline. The TTS-Triplex has three turrets, with or without a steady rest, while the TTS-Quadrex is a four-turret configuration. The tool carriers above the spindles have ±100 mm of Y-axis motion, while those below do not.

The servo indexing turrets are available with 16 or alternatively 12 positions, all of which are live, and utilise BMT45 or BMT65 tool holders to ensure maximum cutting performance and accuracy of tool exchange. Driven tool power is 15 kW, torque is up to 82.7 Nm and the standard 4000 rpm maximum rotational speed may be doubled on request. More information www.wmtcnc.com

Bumotec machines central to success at Art in Vogue

Located near Porto, Art In Vogue (AIV) is a small, dynamic company consisting of two entities: AIV Metal Solutions, which focuses on metal treatments and forming, and AIV Metal Machining, which produces high-precision components. Some 35 specialists are actively involved in bringing customers’ expectations to life. Finding the right way to produce is the ‘added value’ of AIV.

Bruno Correia, CEO of AIV, says: “40 years ago, the company produced components for bags within the leather goods sector. However, in 2000, this traditional industry in Portugal faced an economic crisis, prompting us to explore new market opportunities. We expanded into the precision parts machining sector. In 2018, we invested in CNC machinery, building on our existing turning capabilities. We currently have 11 CNC machines, including the first fully equipped Bumotec turn-mill centre from Starrag installed in Portugal: a s181 nine-axis dual working station model.”

He continues: “The decision to invest in the Bumotec s181 was made primarily based on the efficiency of the machine, which is enhanced by the counter spindle operating in hidden time, allowing us to reduce production time by 40%. Despite being one of the most complex machining centres in the Bumotec range, it offers incredible possibilities for making production as cost-effective and stable as possible. This capability is supported by the bar feeder, which operates autonomously 24/7, including at weekends.”

Adding his thoughts, Daniel Fernandes, director of operations at AIV, says: “The result is clear. Take the part currently being produced on the Bumotec s181, for example, which was initially made on a turning machine with multiple set ups. With our investment we reduced its production time by 50%, while the quality of the finish is also far better.”

More information www.starrag.com