Heavy duty CNC lathes can be customised

A range of heavy duty, CNC, flat-bed lathes include one customised with a gap bed facility, allowing an exceptionally large swing of 865mm and is fitted with Siemens 810D CNC.
Preparing for its first MACH exhibition since its resurgence as a major power in the UK machine tool manufacturing industry, classic lathe maker Dean, Smith and Grace of Keighley, West Yorkshire, exhibits two examples from its '2000' Series range of heavy duty, CNC, flat-bed lathes. The Type 2413 x 50 (610mm swing over bed/330mm swing over saddle x 1270mm between centres) Gap Bed lathe on show has been bespoke engineered for a customer and is the eighteenth consecutive Dean, Smith and Grace CNC lathe that the company has purchased. Precisely tailored for the customer's application, the 'MACH' show machine features a gap bed facility, allowing an exceptionally large swing of 865mm (34in), an integral side discharge conveyor and the customer's control of choice, Siemens 810D CNC.

Standard features include: Sauter eight-station turret to accept 50mm VDI tooling; 26kW spindle motor; three jaw precision chuck with serrated base jaws; induction hardened bed built to BS 2656 alignment standards; Favretto ground bed ways; high performance digital servos; precision ballscrews on rigid bearings; automatic lubrication system; variable spindle speed and fully guarded operator protection systems.

Optional productivity enhancements available for this machine include: suitable tooling packages complete with 50mm VDI tool holders; parts catcher; 630mm hydraulic closed centre power chuck complete with closed centre cylinder fitted with 3/32in x 90 deg serrated base; and software upgrade to PCU50 10GB c/w wireless compatible software.

Renowned for their accuracy and rigidity and ideal for close tolerance 'one-offs' and prototypes, Dean, Smith and Grace lathes are equally adept in the production of small-to-medium size batches.

To reinforce this concept, Dean, Smith and Grace will exhibit a Type 2110 x 60 (533mm swing over bed/254mm swing over saddle x 1500mm between centres) CNC lathe, again bespoke engineered for a customer's application - in this case the volume production of bearings in composite materials.

For optimum cutting efficiency the lathe utilises a specially designed headstock with a larger spindle than the norm.

It is equipped with a bespoke pneumatic single bar feed system which utilises the spindle bore as the cylinder, interlocked to a pushrod on the rear of the spindle and a 180mm SMW collet chuck.

The lathe is fitted with the latest Fanuc SVPM single drive module Oi-TC control with 180mm (7.2in) LCD screen.

The Dean, Smith and Grace heavy duty range includes the '2000', '3000', '4000' and '5000' Series of flat bed, CNC lathes.

The 2000 Series is available with a swing of 610-762mm; the 3000 Series a swing of 810-1000mm; the 4000 Series a swing of 1000-1200mm; and the 5000 Series a swing of 1200-1500mm.

Complementing its heavy duty ranges Dean, Smith and Grace continues to produce its famous large capacity Type 25P and 30P dual-manual/CNC lathes.

Equipped with 276 and 381mm spindle bores, the Type 25P and Type 30P 'pipe' lathes remain a firm favourite with oilfield equipment manufacturers.

Each features powerful drive motors which complement four manually selected gear ranges to provide exceptionally large torque at very low speeds, while bed rigidity and long life is probably the best in the business through the use of a heavily ribbed casting and the outstanding design of the carburised, and Reishauer ground, gears.

In addition, DSG is currently developing a new range of lathes with a spindle diameter of 535mm.

Dean, Smith and Grace also retains its unrivalled capabilities in rebuilding lathes, milling machines and other precision machine tools to 'as new' standards and equipped with the very latest CNC control system of customer choice.

High precision slideway grinding facilities guarantee superb accuracy and surface finish, while a Dean, Smith and Grace rebuild remains better value than many new machines available on the market today.

Complementing its abilities to supply 'off-the-peg' CNC and manual lathes, hand-built to the highest specifications, Dean, Smith and Grace can also build individual lathes tailored to the customer's precise dimensions and requirements.

Dean, Smith and Grace welcomes the chance to discuss customers' specific applications at the MACH exhibition - and to offer the bespoke engineered, production efficient solutions, that the company can provide.