Large machining centre can also turn

A new machining centre, called UniSpeed 6, has been developed by the German manufacturer, SHW, for producing large, complex components weighing up to eight tonnes. There is also a mill-turn version on which the 3 x 1.6 m table is replaced by a 1.6 m diameter rotary table that allows parts weighing up to three tonnes to be turned in-cycle, with constant surface speed capability, at up to 250 rpm. Sole UK agent for SHW is Kingsbury Machine Tools, Gosport.

The travelling-column machine has a working volume of X: 3,000 mm x Y: 1,300 mm x Z: 1,300 mm. Direct drive to the 36 kW / 6,000 rpm (maximum figures) spindle reduces wear and eliminates heat generation in gears. 50-taper tools are automatically exchanged from a 48-station magazine, optionally up to 120 tool positions. The HSK-A100 taper can alternatively be specified.

Despite weighing 45 tonnes, the UniSpeed 6 needs no special foundations, as it has a rigid, composite base. Installation costs are therefore reduced. The Hydropol composite material is a special concrete that has about 30 times higher damping capacity than cast iron, resulting in improved surface quality of the machined part, more precise manufacturing tolerances and longer tool life.

High productivity is important for a large machine to ensure rapid return on investment, so the UniSpeed 6 has been endowed with surprising agility, evidenced by acceleration at 2 m/s2 up to 30 m/min cutting feed and rapid traverse in all orthogonal axes. Either a Heidenhain iTNC 530 or Siemens 840D CNC system provides control.

The new SHW UniSpeed 6 machining centre from Kingsbury can have in-cycle turning capability.

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