A range of multi-tasking twin-spindle, twin-turret turning centres with Y-axis capability on their upper and lower turrets, has been launched into the UK marketplace by Mills CNC: the TT1300SYY (42/51 mm bar diameter capacity) and larger TT2100SYY (65/81 mm).

The Doosan TT1300SYY and TT2100SYY are flexible machines and can be employed in a number of ways. For instance, twin-turret capability allows simultaneous OD and ID cutting to occur on a part located in the machine’s main spindle. Alternatively, the simultaneous milling and turning of components in the machine’s main and sub-spindle enables multiple finished parts to be completed in one cycle, while a further option is to combine operations by machining one side of a part in the main spindle before being finished in (transferred to) the sub-spindle.
Mills CNC’s technical director Tony Dale says: “Doosan TT machines have a reputation in the market for their accuracy, speed and reliability. The new machines, with their dual Y-axis capability, build on this legacy and take these strengths, along with productivity and efficiency, to a whole new dimension.”
As well as having Y-axis capability on their upper and lower turrets, the new machines also feature LM roller-type guides on the axes, up to 40 m/min rapid rates, and 11 kW/6000 rpm/93 Nm spindle performance on the TT1300SYY (15 kW/6000 rpm/ 116 Nm on the TT2100SYY).
Also featured are high capability sub-spindles – 11 kW/6000 rpm for both models – while a low-friction ballscrew design mitigates the effects of thermal drift. Furthermore, both machines feature the Doosan Easy Operation Package for programming, and a Doosan grease lubrication system.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Lathes have many uses, some of which are less conventional than others, like gear skiving. A case in point can be seen at one of Europe’s largest specialist manufacturers and suppliers of gear racks, pinions, leadscrews and nuts, Halifax Rack & Screw (HRS), which has recently started producing round gears at its Brighouse factory in West Yorkshire.

For machining round gears accurately and quickly, the firm has invested in a gear skiving machine: an Okuma Multus U3000-2SW from NCMT. Already installed and operational, this bar-fed, multi-tasking lathe is about to be fitted with automation equipment to further speed the handling of components, free up more operator time and make the process even more efficient.
Sales engineer at HRS, Simon Matthews, who has been heavily involved in the project, says: “For the medium-to-large batch production of gears, skiving has become the technology of choice. For example, in the case of the first three gears we are producing for our US customer, Vermeer, the 25 minute cycle times for the two larger gears would be three to four times longer by hobbing or using other gear cutting machines. We opted for the Multus from Okuma, as it was the first multi-function machine manufacturer to develop a generic platform for skiving precision gears to DIN5 quality.”
A crucial element in gear skiving on a multi-tasking lathe is being able to synchronise accurately the B-axis rotary movement of the upper tool spindle carrying the skiving tool, with the C-axis rotation of the main spindle – functionality for which the Multus is noted.
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

Even in its standard version, the C200 lathe built in Germany by Index-Werke is a productive bar auto with three turrets and two spindles that are horizontally opposed. Now, the manufacturer has introduced a tandem version with two main spindles mounted side by side and two counter spindles for even more cost-effective production. Sole sales and service agent in the UK, Ireland and the Middle East is Kingsbury.

The new Index C200 tandem, which has an identical machine housing to that of the original lathe, doubles production output in the same footprint without increasing labour or energy costs. Each of the three VDI-30 tool turrets, which can be used simultaneously, have remained the same in terms of their arrangement, power, speed and feed rate.
New, however, is the turret design, which enables five double tool holders to be mounted. Each side is equipped with identical tools in pairs, fixed or live, which are used in parallel at the main and counter spindles for simultaneous front-end and rear-end machining.
Bar stock up to 52 mm diameter is fed by the specially developed Index MBL52 tandem magazine, allowing two bars to be advanced into the lathe at the same time. An integrated handling device was also developed, whereby two grippers ensure that the pair of machined components are removed from the counter spindles and placed on a conveyor belt to exit the machine quickly and without damage.
Index’s patented SingleSlide guide system remains in use for the tandem version of the C200. Kinematically driven steel plates replace compound slides for supporting the three turrets, significantly reducing the distance between the turret centreline and the point at which it is driven.
For further information www.kingsburyuk.com

TDT Machine Tools has struck a new partnership deal with CMZ, a Spanish manufacturer of lathes and turning centres. With immediate effect, TDT Machine Tools is able to offer CMZ machines across the central belt of the UK. This area extends coast-to-coast from Lincolnshire in the East, to Wales in the West, taking in the East and West Midlands, including Hereford and Worcester, and extending as far north as Sheffield and Doncaster.

CMZ has been manufacturing lathes for more than 70 years. This family business, founded in the town of Zaldibar, near Bilbao, has grown exponentially in recent years to acquire global acknowledgement in the machine tool sector. CMZ manufactures almost 500 lathes per annum, all of which are designed to offer a life cycle of over 20 years. Over the past three years, growth at CMZ of 7%, 16% and 23%, highlights the increasing popularity of the company’s machines.
“CMZ machines are built to last for decades, without any compromise in precision or reliability,” says Phil Terry, sales director at TDT Machine Tools. “Importantly, we can supply standard CMZ lathes from factory stock in one week, which compares favourably to the five weeks typically required for machines from the Far East. Even CMZ lathes built to customer specifications are available on short lead times.”
TDT Machine Tools is able to offer the full CMZ range, which extends from small two-axis lathes, through to 18-axis triple-turret high-productivity turning centres featuring sub-spindles. Swing diameters of up to 950 mm and 3250 mm between centres, can be provided.
It is also worth noting that CMZ is well placed in that the company has its own service division based in the UK. With headquarters in Rugby, just up the road from TDT, CMZ lathes are installed and maintained by CMZ-employed, UK-based engineers.
For further information www.tdt-machinetools.co.uk

Northampton-based Scot Bennett Engineering, which supplies milled and turned parts to the automotive, agricultural, lighting and industrial sectors, has purchased its second Nakamura AS200LMYS from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) to help it cope with a 16% increase in demand.

The single turret, 15-station live tool and twin-spindle machine will reduce cycle times by up to 25%, as well as remove secondary operations on more than 40 different product lines.
As an investment, the machine gives the company extra capacity with its milling work, capacity that will soon be used on a number of projects – including aftermarket motorcycle absorbers for an export customer.
“The Nakamura is a high-quality machine and delivers the precision, speed and flexibility that we need,” explains Rob Bennett, who took over the business from his father in 2010. “We already have an AS200 on the shop floor and know, first-hand, what it can give. This second machine will provide us with extra milling capacity and we’ve made sure that the machine has been configured exactly the same, with the same work holding and software. By doing this, we’ve removed the need for any extra training, while accelerating the installation process.”
Jon Mannion, regional sales manager at ETG, adds: “Nakamura is a very popular choice for subcontact machinists and it’s not difficult to see why. The ability to mill and turn on the same machine, with live tooling delivering a 6,000 rpm spindle, is a real game changer for firms who want speed and the ability to manufacture complex components.”
For further information www.engtechgroup.com