CITIZEN MACHINERY – THE NEXT LEVEL Hall 20 Stand 361 Citizen <strong>Machinery</strong> will reaffirm its position not only as one of the leading suppliers of bar-fed lathes into the British and Irish markets, but also as a pioneer in implementing attendant technologies that take that pre-eminence to the next level in terms of innovative production. The company’s patented LFV (low frequency vibration) chip breaking software, its wealth of options for automating production, and integral laser cutting in its Cincom slidinghead lathes are three examples. The focus will be on Citizen’s proprietary LFV operating system software that ensures efficient chip breaking and every slidinghead mill-turn centre on the stand will have this functionality. <strong>2024</strong> marks the sixth anniversary of the technology’s launch. It has had a transformative effect on sales of Cincom sliders around the world, and also of selected models within Citizen’s fixedhead Miyano turning centre range, owing to the superiority of chip breaking over that achievable with conventional pecking macros and dwells. That is especially the case when machining stainless steel, aluminium, copper, various exotic materials and plastics. There is also a noticeable improvement in tool life and surface finish due to the avoidance of recutting of chips. Problems arising from stringy swarf entangling around the workpiece and tool are prevented by vibrating the X and Z servo axes in the direction of cutting in synchrony with rotation of the spindle. The function, which has three alternative modes, may be used with static and driven tools. It is especially helpful in generating manageable chip sizes when grooving, drilling deep, small-diameter holes, and internal and external thread cutting. A versatile variant has been added to the Cincom L20 sliding-head CNC turning centre range from Citizen <strong>Machinery</strong>. The L20-XII, which has a 135-degree swivelling B- axis mounted on the gang tool post for working at either of the opposed spindles, is now available with an automatic tool changer (ATC) for swapping up to 30 mm diameter cutters in a chip-to-chip time of four seconds. Both the tool carrier and magazine move in the Y1-axis to effect tool change. Believed to be a first in a sliding-head turning machine, the ability to exchange 12 different cutters in the lower position of the B-axis carrier greatly extends the machine’s versatility when executing angled cross working or end facing operations. A 13th tool is fixed in the upper position on the carrier. While the cutters are normally live for performing drilling, slitting, hobbing or multi-axis milling, positions may be filled by turning tools if expedient. The total number of cutters that may be mounted in the working area of the Cincom L20-XIIATC is 34, providing considerable flexibility to ensure that components are machined in as few set-ups as possible, normally one. Tools are driven by a 2.2 kW motor at up to 12,000 rpm, so even small diameter mills are capable of productive metal removal rates. As its designation implies, the lathe is designed to turn components from 20 mm diameter bar, although oversized options allow up to 25 mm diameter material to be accepted. Another feature contributing to the lathe’s versatility is the ability to switch over quickly between sliding-head operation and non-guide bush turning for more economical production of shorter components up to typically 2.5D. Visitors to the Citizen <strong>Machinery</strong> UK stand will learn that the configuration of the 12 mm bar capacity Cincom L12-X ideally suits it to the production of dental abutments and implants, as well as medical industry parts in general. Multiple rear-facing endworking tool positions including driven stations are provided, as well as a Y2-axis to the X2 and Z2 movements on the counter spindle to match the three degrees of freedom on the main spindle. Two Cincom lathes on the stand will have 32 mm bar capacity, including the L32-VIII, which accepts 38 mm stock if the guide bush is removed. It is one of four machines with exclusively gang toolposts in a modular range that allows a user to select a precise specification to suit the intended applications, while retaining the option of adding extra functionality later. The version on show will be a 7-axis model with up to 30 tools, said to have an excellent costperformance ratio. The other model is Citizen’s flagship sliding-headstock lathe, the 10-axis Cincom M32-VIII, now in its fifth design iteration. www.citizenmachinery.co.uk GROUP RHODES TO SHOWCASE ITS BESPOKE METALFORMING MACHINERY Hall 6- Stand 599 Group Rhodes, a manufacturer of metal and composite forming machinery, will be demonstrating one of its innovative metalforming presses within the MMMA Metal Working Village at MACH <strong>2024</strong>. The Rhodes Interform product on display was designed and manufactured in-house at the company’s Wakefield factory as part of a full turnkey solution to produce a bespoke twin press facility for forging forklift truck components. The entire project, which consists of two Rhodes Interform multi-axis presses, a complete robotic handling line and an integrated conveying system, is capable of processing the largest forks at a rate of 1 part per 70 seconds. Group Rhodes will also be discussing the global patents it has registered for its industry-leading Superplastic Forming & Diffusion Bonding Technology (SPF/DB), including the territories of China, India, The United States and Europe. This innovative solution is applied extensively to the lightweighting of components within the aerospace and automotive industries. Operations Director James Gascoigne, commented: “We are looking forward to attending MACH <strong>2024</strong>, which will give us the opportunity to demonstrate our latest innovations in metalforming technology. This will be our first exhibition since we secured international patents for Superplastic Forming & Diffusion Bonding and it will be a great chance for our team to discuss how this technology works and its potential applications globally.” He added: “Given that our 19th-century patents were for improvements to the steam hammer, it is amazing to think that our most recent innovations are helping to form components for spacecraft! We are very proud to showcase these innovations – especially in our 200th anniversary year.” www.grouprhodes.co.uk 20 <strong>Manufacturing</strong> <strong>Machinery</strong> <strong>World</strong>, <strong>April</strong> <strong>2024</strong>
GAUGES LTD PENICO ROTARY GRINDING TABLE • Converts surface grinders to rotary work • Robust construction For further details contact Penico Gauges Ltd Tel: 01274 511044 Fax: 01274 510770 Email: penicogauges@yahoo.co.uk Web: www.penico.com Ultrasonic deburring: The solution to your deburring problem Before After VOLLMER UK LTD. Nottingham NG10 5BP +44 115 9491040 www.ultratec-innovation.de <strong>Manufacturing</strong> <strong>Machinery</strong> <strong>World</strong>, <strong>April</strong> <strong>2024</strong> 21
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