Compact lathe does front and back at once

Citizen's latest twin-spindle Boley BC42-X2 fixed headstock precision lathe can simultaneously machine the front and back of a workpiece.

Citizen's latest twin-spindle Boley BC42-X2 fixed headstock precision lathe is able to simultaneously machine the front and back of a workpiece and generate similar benefits of around a 30% reduction in cycle times, to a twin-turret machine configuration.

However, the Boley is designed for fast set up and changeover and because it has a smaller footprint than a twin turret machine and has a more simple construction, investment cost and production cost per part is much lower.

Now available through NC Engineering of Watford, the German built slant bed design Boley, with its synchronous feature machining capability for parts made from bar up to its 42mm capacity, is totally servo-controlled and uses digital drive technology.

The PC-based Windows control system has a 64bit RISC processor with on-board modem for diagnostic and service support.

The machine comprises an electronically synchronised 11kW main spindle capable of 6000rev/min with full C-axis and a secondary spindle with 3.7kW, 6000rev/min and C-axis option.

The 12 station all-driven turret has additional 10-degree indexing between stations.

This allows it to accommodate extra tools and through the addition of an 80mm stroke x2 axis to the secondary spindle, front and rear and off-centre end features of a component can be simultaneously machined.

This capability enables the machine to achieve a significant reduction in cycle time.

The ability to achieve short cycle times when using one-hit mill/turning techniques is accomplished through a 1kW drive, programmable up to 4000rev/min to the 12 driven turret tool positions, intelligent servo drives with fast response and rapid traverses of 24m/min.

The BC42-X2 also has 1s turret indexing, electro-mechanical collet operation and servo-controlled gripping pressure.

Completed components are carried away from the cutting zone by a workpiece slide controlled via an M-code function.

Both slide and workpiece catcher are protective lined and, as an option, a separate workpiece conveyor can be fitted.

The stroke of turret x-axis is 135 mm with a z1 longitudinal travel of 200mm.

The z2-axis travel of the subspindle is 400mm.

Due to the compactness of the machine, floor space requirement is only 2110 x 1160mm.

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