Extra-Large Machining Center Performs Milling, Turning

Weingärtner’s flagship MPMC 2000 multitasking machine offers a maximum turning diameter of 2,000 mm, with other custom features for parts such as turbine shafts, compressor screws and drive shafts for ships. These large dimensions are complemented by the 60,000-kg maximum workpiece load capacity between chuck and tailstock. The company’s specialized steady rests enable the machine to bear the full workpiece load even without the support of the tailstock. This characteristic is necessary to run face turning operations, for example.

This extra-large multitasking center uses a 161-kW, 80,220-Nm, 300-rpm headstock and a 72-kW, 1,870-Nm turning and milling unit. The machine includes a rack and pinion drive with a master-slave system on the Z axis. The main spindle, with its own master-slave technology, enables dynamic and reliable C-axis positioning and motion with variable preloading and zero backlash. The mechanical wear to the pinions is equalized via the electronically controlled preload. As on all other models in the MPMC range, the MPMC 2000 uses the B-axis clamping system, which eases continuous clamping in any angular position with a holding torque of 20,000 Nm. A water-cooled drive concept mitigates temperature effects on measurement systems.

The MPMC 2000 is produced and set up per customer requirements. The machines have flexible pickup systems and parking options, which enable them to automatically exchange a range of application-specific machining modules such as mechanical and motorized high-speed turning and milling heads, a variety of boring bars, actuating tools for inner machining, ejector deep-hole drilling systems, special milling heads for machining of pine-tree profiles, U-center heads, and high-performance units for large side-milling cutters.