Hunprenco, a Yorkshire-based manufacturer of plungers and coolers for the glass container industry, has invested in 15 Doosan lathes from Mills CNC over the past five years. The machines comprise six TL 2000 (twin-turret, single-spindle turning centres), six GT 2100 turning centres, a Lynx 220LC compact lathe and two Puma 2600M lathes with driven tooling.
The TL 2000, GT 2100 and one Puma 2600M machines are installed at Hunprenco’s plunger and cooler manufacturing facility, while the Lynx 220LC and a Puma 2600M are located in the company’s second manufacturing facility, which produces precision-engineered parts, not just for the glass industry, but for customers in a range of other sectors.
The decision to invest in the TL 2000 machines was made to increase Hunprenco’s productivity, specifically to enable the company to reduce its lead times.
“The TL 2000’s twin-turret configuration means that we can machine complex parts quicker by reducing three distinct machining operations to just one,” says general manager Ivan McNeill. “We manufacture thousands of plungers every week, so reducing component set-up and cycle times is important and helps us avoid production bottlenecks.”
The 65mm bar capacity box guideway GT 2100 lathes are equipped with a 15.5 kW/4500 rpm spindle. They were selected following in-depth discussions with Mills CNC’s pre-sales and applications engineers to help improve an existing (specific) machining process.
“The team at Mills reviewed our current method for machining coolers and, in partnership with our own engineers, designed, developed and ultimately proved-out a modified and more robust process using the new GT 2100 machines,” explains sales manager Dennis Langfield.
For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

In turn-milling cycles on the new Miyano BNE-51MSY, it is possible to use up to three tools simultaneously so that both ends of a workpiece can be machined in a single cycle.
The BNE-51MSY, with its fixed-head main spindle and two-axis secondary spindle, has the advantage of synchronised/superimposed control, which is applied to both 12-station, all-driven turrets, one with three axes of travel, the other with two. Not only does this configuration reduce cycle times, it increases tooling utilisation and performance when setting single operational sequences, says Citizen.
Featuring a weight of 8 tonnes, the Miyano BNE-51MSY has been developed to optimise heavy-cutting cycles and deliver fine surface finishes and extended tool life, especially on difficult-to-machine materials. This is achieved through the benefit of a heavy slant-bed casting with precision hand-scraped square guideways.
Its fixed main spindle offers 15 kW of output, while the secondary spindle is powered by a 7.5 kW drive with 150 mm of stroke in X3, and 450 mm in Z3. Both spindle arrangements have 51 mm capacity and deliver speeds up to 5000 rpm.
Multiple tools can be carried in both rigid and hydraulically-clamped curvic coupling turrets, enabling simultaneous service to either or both spindles. Overlapping tooling applications further reduce non-cutting time.
The configuration of turret axes enables the upper turret (HD1) to provide X1, Z1 and Y1 travels of 190, 380 and ±40 mm, while the lower turret (HD2) has X2 travel of 190 mm and Z2 of 175 mm.
For further information
www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Occupying less than 5 sq m of space on a shop floor, the new CLX350 CNC lathe from DMG Mori is nevertheless capable of turning components from bar up to 51 mm in diameter (65 mm optional) and has a maximum turning diameter of
320 mm. In addition, Z-axis travel is 530 mm. Spindle speeds up to 5,000 rpm can be programmed, while the cartridge design
means that exchange is simple and rapid.
The machine, which is described by the company as “competitively priced”, has a VDI 30 turret with 12 tool positions, all of which can be driven on request. DMG Mori states that complex components are machined to high accuracy, repeatability and surface finish, due in part to the lathe’s rigid construction and the use of IT1-class ballscrews. Optimised chip flow helps maintain productivity and there is an optional chip conveyor, making it suitable for higher volume production environments.
The Siemens-based, DMG Mori SLIMline 19” touch-screen control with bespoke software is said to offer the user fast, simple operation and advanced simulation possibilities combined with good ergonomics. What’s more, technology cycles including Easy Tool Monitoring are designed to make working with the CLX 350 even more straightforward. The lathe can be augmented with modular additions that include automated workpiece handling.
For further information
www.dmgmori.com

Mildenhall-based CTPE, a subcontract supplier to the healthcare, medical and scientific sectors has seen cycle times cut by 80% in some instances as a result of investing in its first sliding-head turning centre – a seven-axis Tornos Swiss DT 26. The company previously relied on fixed-head turning centres.
Compatibility with water-based soluble cutting fluids, 26 mm capacity, 10 kW of power on both the main and sub-spindles, effective swarf management and fast switching from guide bush to non-guide bush mode were among the reasons for selecting the Swiss DT 26 from Tornos. The machine is paired with a TornosRobobar SBF 326 (3.2m capacity) barfeed for unmanned production.
Materials processed by CTPE on the DT 26 include PEEK, acetal, PTFE, PVC, nylon 66 and Rulon, as well as 2024 aluminium. The machine has been set to work producing parts typically in batches of 1000 to 2000-off. However, due to the ease and speed with which the machine can be set up, it is equally economical to run batches as small as 300 to 400-off. On average, parts produced by the company are around 20 mm long and 15 mm in diameter. A typical CTPE cycle time on the Swiss DT 26 is 20 seconds, or up to 50 seconds for more complex components.
“Compared with our fixed-head turning centres, we’ve seen some cycle times reduce from 150 seconds, to just 30, which is an 80% reduction,” says managing director Chris Taylor. “Moreover, we have eliminated second operations, deburring and picking-out. Without doubt, we should have bought one years ago.”
For further information
www.tornos.com