CNC lathe company includes VMCs in packages

Colchestersales (UK) is to market the Richmond vertical machining centres as part of its high technology mill/turn machining packages involving the Tornado, Combi and MultiTurn.
Colchestersales (UK) based in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, is to market the latest advanced and high specification range of Richmond vertical machining centres as part of its high technology machining packages involving the Colchester Lathe range of Tornado, Combi and MultiTurn. The machine range is also sold by 600 Centre of Shepshed near Loughborough, UK, where the Midlands-based Colchestersales Technology Centre is also established. Explained Colchester Lathe director Mike Berry: 'Both 600 Centre and Colchestersales (UK) are putting together packages of machines to customers that want to deal with a single supplier that has a known history and good aftersales support, so it was logical to offer the Richmond as a 600 Group product to both operations.' The Richmond range spans a compact 500L with travels of 510mm in X, 410mm in Y and 460mm in Z with 12 or 20 tools, 5.5kW or 7.5kW spindle motor and options of 8,000, 10,000 or 12,000 rev/min to the top of the range VMC 1600S.

This machine weighs a massive 14 tonnes and has a BT50, spindle with options of 15kW or 22kW, 4,000 or 6,000 rev/min spindle drive and travels of 1600mm in X, 800mm in Y and 850mm in Z.

There are also options of 24 or 32 tool magazines.

There are two basic designs with the L version configured with linear guideways to provide faster axis movements of 36 m/min across the Richmond 500, 610, 850 and 1020 machines.

The S version, that is more suited to users requiring heavier milling cycles uses a hardened and ground solid boxway arrangement which is available on the Richmond 610, 850, 1020, 1300 and largest in the range the 1600.

Rapid traverse rates are 24m/min on the three smallest machines and 15m/min in X and Y and 12m/min in Z on the two larger varients.

All machines can be specified with either Anilam 6000M or Fanuc OiMC controls with Heidenhain iTNC530 available on request along with a fourth-axis interface.

There is a range of spindle options, again tailorable to customer requirements.

The VMC 500L has a 5.5kW or 7.5kW drive, with BT40 taper while the 610, 850 and 1020 have 11kW, or 15kW BT40 taper units.

The larger 1300, has 11kW or 15kW of power and BT40/50 taper and the 1600 a choice of 15kW or 22kW with BT40/50 taper and maximum speeds of 4,000, 6,000 rev/min, 10,000 rev/min and 12,000 rev/min with a BT40/50 taper.

A Geneva-type carousel tool magazine changer is fitted as standard with 16 or 20 position options and a 10 second exchange while a 24 or 32 tool magazine with twin-arm changer can be specified having a 2.5s change time.