Five-Axis Machining Center Provides Torsion-Resistant Column

The Tongtai CT-350 vertical machining center, available from Absolute Machine Tools, offers a small footprint and five-axis machining capability. The C-frame-type machine was designed based on mold machining centers to ensure rigidity during cutting. The column of the CT-350 has a wide span, making it torsion-resistant while cutting a five-axis part. The machine’s 45-mm, roller-type guideways and pre-tensioned, large-diameter ballscrews contribute to enhanced rigidity.

The 13.78"-diameter table can handle a maximum load of 440 lbs. The integrated rotary table uses the roller gear cam in both the tilt and rotation axes. The roller gear cam design provides zero backlash, high rigidity and fast rotation speeds, the company says. The VMC provides XYZ travels of 15.75" × 20.08" × 20.08", A-axis travel of +30/-12 degrees and C-axis travel of 360 degrees. The A and C axes have rotation speeds of 40 and 33 rpm, respectively. Rapid feed rates are 1,418 ipm in the X and Y axes and 1,182 ipm in the Z axis.

The VMC is equipped with 20-hp, direct-drive, 15,000-rpm Big Plus 40 taper spindle with air/oil mist lubrication; an optional 20,000-rpm integral spindle is also available. For enhanced productivity, the 24-position, arm-type toolchanger is equipped with a roller gear cam mechanism to reduce tool-change time to 2 sec.; larger 30- and 40-tool automatic toolchangers are optional.

The CT350 is equipped with a FANUC OiM-F CNC control to perform 4+1-axis cutting. For five-axis simultaneous cutting, the machine can use a FANUC 31iM-B5, Siemens 840D or Heidenhain iTNC-640.