Star Micronics GB will showcase the new SP-32 sliding-head lathe for the first time in the UK at its annual open house event, taking place on 7-9 October 2025. The SP-32 follows the launch of the SP-23 in 2023, expanding the capability of the series to bar diameters up to 32 mm (35 mm optional).

Designed for versatility, the SP-32 offers a wide tooling capacity and extensive software functions, making it well-suited to a broad range of sectors that include automotive, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, and general subcontract machining.

The machine is equipped with the FANUC 0i-TF Plus CNC, which includes a range of advanced features such as a program data batch input/output function to streamline daily operation. In addition, a new deburring cycle has been added to the Star command system.

Incorporating various technologies to minimise heat generation, the SP-32 includes Star’s thermal displacement correction technology to optimise accuracy, stability and machining performance. The machine is compatible with the latest software developments including Step Cycle Pro chip-breaking technology and Star’s new ECO Mode, an energy saving function that saves power during machine standby.

The SP-32 incorporates a zero-shaped tool post with a six-station platen on the front and a six-spindle cross-drilling unit at the rear. Four of the cross-drilling unit’s spindles are cartridge-type positions where a wide variety of tool units can be mounted to suit complex applications. In addition, a five-spindle sleeve holder (drilling arm) is provided with three positions at 22 mm and two positions at 32 mm diameter.

The back-working platen is specified with a five-spindle tool post with driven-tool capability as standard, enabling up to four rotating tools for efficient (overlapped) back machining and reduced cycle times.

More information www.stargb.com/open

Achieving 10% year-on-year growth in global sales since the start of the decade has prompted First Light Lamps to replace some of the 1980s- and 1990s-built turning machines at its Ely, Cambridgeshire factory with two new models that are more reliable, capable, productive and accurate.

Two legacy Miyano fixed-head lathes and a Cincom sliding-head turning centre have been removed to make room for two modern Cincoms, which were delivered in May this year by Citizen Machinery UK. The lathes will not only machine all the electrodes and connectors previously produced by the three old Citizen lathes but, when they are fully on-stream, will also allow the 10% of components currently outsourced to be manufactured in-house.

The smaller of the two new Cincoms, a 12 mm bar capacity L12-VIILFV, is devoted to machining lamp electrodes from lanthanated tungsten bar, 1.5 to 2 m long, of various diameters between 2.8 and 9.5 mm. The job was previously performed by two of the old Miyano fixed-head lathes, which were purchased second-hand in 2004 when First Light Lamps was founded. It is notable that, being of 34 mm bar capacity, they were deliberately over-specified in terms of size to gain the rigidity of a bigger production platform for machining the tough material.

There are 500 designs of electrode and a similar number for connectors, which underlines the need for machining to be wholly controlled in-house, as well as lamp assembly.

Says company director Paul Walker: “Our new, highly capable Citizen lathes, despite being fewer in number than previously, produce four times more connectors during our day shift, as well as all of our electrodes, many of which we were previously having to buy in.”

More information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk