'Lights out' turning package starts at GBP 53,000

A 'lights-out' unmanned turning package enables highly automated production across a range of two-axis and three-axis machines at a very competitive price starting at under GBP 53,000.
The 'Lights-out' unmanned turning package developed by Colchester Lathe is the flagship for its Tornado range of lathes. It enables highly automated production across the range of two-axis and three-axis machines at a very competitive price which starts at under GBP 53,000. The new livery and ergonomic guard design of the Lights-out package comprises the Colchester developed MBF 1000 integrated barfeed, parts-catcher, swarf conveyor, tool monitoring and sister tool replacement.

In-process gauging and production scheduling software are also included in the purpose-developed, competitively priced unit.

The T2 two-axis 60 (degrees) slant bed machine package using Colchester's Duo-stable construction that provides thermal and dynamic stability up to 300 per cent greater than cast iron, has a 42mm bar capacity and 5.5kW, 6,000 rev/min spindle with 12 position VDI 30 turret.

The MBF 1000 bar magazine is fully integrated with the Fanuc control and as a result has no mechanical stops, takes minutes to change over from, say, hexagon to round bar and programming is quick by using dialogue input.

As each bar is measured, the onboard machine software computes the number of pieces from each bar and recalculates when to stop the automatic production cycle.

The production schedule software enables direct on-machine control over workpiece batches while the tool monitoring, based on axis torque loading, will initiate sister tool replacement from the 12 station VDI turret or stop the machine if the problem is deemed more serious.

To help with program generation, on-board Colchester develop COLCAM software gives fast and simple machining cycles.

Automatic alarm generation and call out is included in the event of cycle stoppage from the Fanuc 21i-TB Series control with 10.4 inch colour LCD display.

Through Renishaw's LT02 optical transmission probing technology for comparison against drawing limits and feed-back to control, any deviation for automatic tool offset correction can be made.