Fuji VN40T provides automated Vertical Turning Lathe package
Fuji launch their latest Vertical Turning Lathe in Europe.
The latest VN-40T vertical turning lathe from Fuji Machine Tools uses a fully integrated, single-arm robotic loading system to provide a compact high productivity turning machine ideal for unmanned or limited manning production environments.
Now available through the European distributor for Fuji Machine Tools, 600 Centre of Shepshed, the VN-40T will accommodate components up to 400 mm diameter by 300 mm long weighing up to 30 Kg in a floor area footprint requiring just 1,400 mm by 1,840 mm. The vertical axis 12-station turret with Curvic coupling and hydraulic index motor has a X-axis stroke of 300 mm and Z-axis of 450 mm and is also available with live tool options.
The 18.5 kW spindle has a maximum speed of 2,400 revs/min and is able to carry a 12 inch (304 mm) chuck or fixturing to accommodate odd shaped workpieces such as steering knuckles and housings providing a more stable location of the component than a horizontal spindle machine – an important advantage when using the integrated robot loading system.
Fitted within the confines of the machine with a separate guarded area, the Fuji VN-40T has an option of an L450-J single gripper or L451-J double gripper swing-arm robot loader. The single gripper unit has a maximum loading of 30 Kg and each of the double grippers 15 Kg each. The robot is able to interface with a work stocker to increase the unattended operational time.
Programming of the robot path is via touch screen or pendant that is independent of the machine’s Fanuc 180i-TB control. The Max SPI software creates its shortest time path based upon automatic calculations following destination input, replacing the traditional point to point input method.
Fuji Machine Tools is the largest supplier of automated lathes to the automotive industry selling over 1,000 machines to this sector last year. A prime example of a customised turnkey solution engineered for the VN-40 machine is the production of a vehicle brake disc as a finished assembly with disc, hub, bearings and locking collar nut. This turning development ensured the runout of the brake disc was true to the wheel bearings, used as the datum, within tolerances of 10 microns.
With the process, the assembly was loaded into the fixture by the robot and the two faces of the disk machined simultaneously using retractable cutting tools. A further engineering solution involved any chips produced being evacuated from the cutting zone by vacuum through the toolholder. The process also included the automatic application of a chatter elimination device that acted on the periphery of the disc during machining and retracted during loading sequences.
For further information, contact:
David Wilkinson (Sales Director - 600 Centre)
Tel: +44 (0)1509 600600
Mike Wildish (Wildish Communications)
Tel: +44 (0) 1634 832221
