machining
With budgets currently under close scrutiny, a raft of new entry level sliding head
automatic lathes have emerged to help underpin investment levels. By Steed Webzell
DMG’s ‘entry level’ 5-axis
Speed 12-5 linear
may 2009
Low cost, high
specification
FOR machine tool manufacturers renowned for
high specification, high functionality equipment,
appealing to the entry level market isn’t always high on
the list of priorities. However, with the current
challenging economic environment, keenly priced
machines featuring stripped down yet entirely
functional and efficient technology, represent a sales
area less affected than many others.
Sliding head automatic lathe technology is no different,
and most of the leading vendors have responded to the
tough financial climate by introducing new entry level
machines over the course of the past 6-12 months. One
such model is the SB-16E from Star Micronics. The SB-16E
is aimed at first time entrants to CNC sliding head
turning, although it is also suitable for existing users that
need a cost effective machine to produce relatively small
diameter, medium complexity parts.
‘If an OEM or subcontractor in the electronics or
dental instrument sector, for example, knows that it is
never going to machine components over 16mm
diameter, this early entry model could be a cost
effective solution,’ says Bob Hunt, managing director of
Star’s UK and Eire subsidiary. ‘The SB-16 is perfect for
those types of user, as well as any company where
capital investment is being curtailed by the current
recession. Admittedly the machine with FMB Minimag
bar magazine is a little more expensive than a few years
ago, now that the Yen is so strong against Sterling, but
it is still an extremely cost effective route into CNC
sliding headstock turn-milling,’ he adds.
Despite being tagged ‘entry level’, considerable
capability has been built into this versatile lathe. The
specification includes a gang tool post for six turning
tools plus two live stations, while there is the option to
have five turning and three driven tools. In either case,
the machine additionally has a sleeve holder deploying
eight stationary end-working tools facing both the main
and counter-spindles. In addition, up to four rearworking
tools are available towards the front of the
machining area for end-working after component pickoff
in the sub-spindle. This can be carried out
simultaneously with, and independently of, main spindle
operations. Other standard equipment includes
centralised lubrication, broken tool detection, parts
separator, sub-spindle air blow and parts ejection detector.
Like Star, Citizen Machinery is also well known for
its high specification sliding head automatic models,
predominantly via its K, C, L and M series machines.
However, the Citizen A series strikes a balance between
price and performance, as more and more of the
company’s customers are discovering. A case in point is
Towcaster-based subcontractor DJM Precision
Engineering, which despite acquiring five Citizen L
series machines in the past five years, opted to acquire a
new Citizen A20, which it first saw at the MACH
exhibition in April 2008. The company was convinced
its shorter axis strokes would be perfect for a new
contract for almost a million components a year
The company’s owner’s Dave and Julie Malin sat
down with Citizen’s application engineers at the show,
costed out the cycle time and price per part, ordered the
machine on the stand and subsequently won the
business. The Citizen A20 VII is now permanently set
to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet the
MWP
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