Automatic Lathe Promotes High Production Rates

Developed for high-production turning, the 42-mm TNK42 fixed-headstock automatic lathe from Traub, a subsidiary of Index Corp., produces complex workpieces in large and medium volumes ranging to 250-mm long.

The vertical design of the machine has a setup-friendly work area which permits unobstructed chip flow and better operation ergonomics, the company says. The vertical machine bed is mounted on a cast iron base, which provides suitable damping properties for high-precision cutting.

With two tool turrets, the automatic lathe features a 29-kW, 65-Nm, 7,000-rpm main spindle with a C axis and 42-mm bar capacity, and a swivel counter spindle with a C axis for extensive rear-end machining. According to the company, the machine is capable of high production rates in a 5.5 m² footprint (without bar loader).

The vertical design permits unobstructed chip flow and better ergonomics for setup operations. The stable, vertical cast machine bed is mounted on a cast iron base to provide effective damping properties for high-precision cutting.

The upper tool turret has 10 stations with slide travels measuring 140 × 300 mm in the X and Z axes, respectively. All stations in the upper turret can be equipped with live tool holders. Turret indexing is accomplished via an NC rotary axis with a direct measuring system to avoid the need for a mechanical lock and enable fast turret positioning at any angle, the company says. Multiple tools can be assigned to each station, and the upper tool carrier can be equipped with as many as 20 tools.