High-Production Lathes Benefit from Robot Loading

Tongtai’s MT-series horizontal turning centers, available from Absolute Machine Tools, are designed for improving cycle times and turning processes on small parts for the automotive industry. These lathes perform high-volume, precision turning and suit automatic production in mass-production lines. MT-series machines feature twin spindles and two individual machining areas with separate bed structures for decreased transfer of harmonic vibration and improved machining accuracy. The turrets and spindles are designed parallel to each other. This design enables parts that usually require two processes to be finished on a single machine. The lathes come equipped with either 6" or 8" chucks on either 6,000- or 4,500-rpm through-coolant spindles, respectively. With cutting feed rates of 0.001 to 5,000 mm/min., this series of horizontal turning centers is ideal for high-production, fast-paced manufacturing environments.

The turning centers can be equipped with a servo-driven, three-axis, gantry-type robot arm to save floor space and improve labor flexibility. The control system offers a robot-teaching function so that the operator can adjust positioning. The function coordinates the robot arm, on-screen positioning diagram, input coordinates, number and names of positions, and three- and single-axis settings. Workpiece positioning protection ensures sealing between the workpiece surface and chuck, and if pneumatic pressure leaks are detected, the robot arm will reload the workpiece. Rapid traverse rates for the robotic arm are 160 m/min. in the X axis, 120 m/min. in the Y axis and 35 m/min. in the Z axis; the rotary axis moves at 180 degrees/sec. Maximum swing diameter is 210 mm with a machining diameter of 210 mm (120 mm with robotic arm) and machining length of 145 mm (100 mm with robotic arm). The pallet stocker comes in three types: three poles and a center; three poles; and a central pole type. The number of pallets pallet ranges from 10 to 16, permitting part diameters from 30 to 150 mm.