Norton Superabrasives Wheels ParadigmPlus
Published

Gantry-Type Milling Machine Minimizes Cycle Times

Soraluce’s PXG-W gantry-type multitasking milling machine is said to reduce the number of clamps required and minimize cycle times and potential errors on large-sized workpieces.

Share

Soraluce’s PXG-W gantry-type multitasking milling machine is said to reduce the number of clamps required and minimize cycle times and potential errors on large-sized workpieces. The machining center has a working volume of 1,000 m3 and is designed to meet the machining requirements of the energy, marine and CHP motor industries.

The versatile machine is capable of handling milling and turning operations, as well as boring, drilling and threading. It features seven milling heads and three turning accessories, and an on-board magazine accommodating 180 tools.

The machine’s work area is split into two sub-areas. The surface of the main sub-area is for machining prismatic parts. It is equipped with floor plates measuring 12 × 6 m and has a load capacity of 25 tons/m2. The second sub-area comprises a 6-m-diameter turning table with a hydrostatic mounting and capacity of 150 tons. The turning table is equipped with sensors so that a function built into the CNC can help re-balance the weight of parts with asymmetric geometries.

The multitasking center is equipped with a Siemens 840D SL CNC with the ability to handle both milling and turning operations, reducing the number of setups. There are two operator platforms, each with its own control panel, enabling the operator to select the best position for each operation.

A cast iron base and linear guides on the X, Y and Z axes are said to promote geometric stability and reduce maintenance. Soraluce’s Vertical Ram Balance (VRB) system helps to ensure precision by offsetting the rolling caused by the torsion of the cross-beam and the differential bending of the columns when the ram travels along the cross (Y) axis of the machine. A thermal monitoring system checks for changes in structural components via a function built into the CNC and applies thermal compensation algorithms. The company’s Dynamic Active Stabiliser (DAS) helps to damp vibration, reducing the risk of chatter or instability during machining.

Related Content

  • How to Start a Swiss Machining Department From Scratch

    When Shamrock Precision needed to cut production time of its bread-and-butter parts in half, it turned to a new type of machine tool and a new CAM system. Here’s how the company succeeded, despite the newness of it all. 

  • Inverting Turning and Five-Axis Milling at Famar

    Automation is only the tip of the iceberg for Famar, which also provides multitasking options for its vertical lathes and horizontal five-axis machine tools.

  • Understanding Swiss-Type Machining

    Once seen as a specialty machine tool, the CNC Swiss-type is increasingly being used in shops that are full of more conventional CNC machines. For the newcomer to Swiss-type machining, here is what the learning curve is like.

IMTS 2024
Gravotech
OASIS Inspection Systems
CHIRON Group, one stop solution for manufacturing.
VERISURF
The view from my shop.
DN Solutions
MMS Top Shops
Kennametal