CNC Turning Center is built for heavy-duty machining of large, long shaft workpieces
Florence, Kentucky, October 25, 2011 – At T3 – Tomorrow's Technology Today, a Discover Mazak 2011 event, manufacturers from all over North America experienced, first hand, the powerful, heavy-duty SLANT TURN NEXUS 550M. The CNC turning center efficiently tackles large part turning applications such as oil field pipes, pipeline control valves, turbine wheels, aircraft and off-road parts and the production of power-generating components for the aerospace, oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries.
The SLANT TURN NEXUS 550M employs a headstock with a 10.8" (274.3 mm) diameter bore mounted on a 60 hp, 1,000-rpm turning spindle that generates up to 5,163 ft-lbs. of torque for high-speed, heavy-duty cutting. The spindle is also used as a C-axis, capable of being indexed at 0.001° increments to accurately position parts for slotting cuts and precisely drilled holes. Additionally, the C-axis spindle is a full-function CNC controlled axis for milling.
For convenient tool management, the SLANT TURN NEXUS 550M utilizes a 12-position drum turret for rapid tool indexing. The machine is also equipped with a 10 hp, 4,000-rpm high-speed milling spindle for roughing, grooving, endmilling and facemilling operations, allowing many processes to be completed in a single machine cycle. The machine handles parts up to 35.8" (910 mm) in diameter and to 125.1" (3,179 mm) long and features a 40.7" (1,033.7 mm) swing and a steady rest capacity of 16.14" (405 mm) diameters.
The machine's NC servo-driven tailstock enables automated processes and is fully programmable, driving the W-axis on its own AC servomotor and ball screw. Through the part program, the tailstock will retract to a known position and its center makes contact with the part with consistent holding pressure. Further, because of its positive independent drive system, the tailstock will drill holes on a shaft centerline, adding versatility to the jobs it can process.
The sixth-generation MAZATROL MATRIX NEXUS CNC control on the SLANT TURN NEXUS 550M simplifies multi-tasking metalworking operations. It offers a 12" LCD color display and the familiar QWERTY keyboard. A pointing device, acting like a mouse, and USB port for downloading programs are also at the operator's fingertips.
Conversational part programming can be accomplished in MAZATROL language while the machine is cutting another part, or off-line in a CAD/CAM system. Once imported into MAZATROL MATRIX, a realistic 3D cycle simulation verifies the machining cycle and checks for machine interferences, greatly reducing the need for test cuts.