Being supplied by Ward CNC, two new Soraluce FP8000 travelling column floor-type milling machines and a pre-owned Marafuku travelling-table machining centre are en route to Newburgh. Engineering Co -
Being supplied by Ward CNC, two new, Spanish-built Soraluce FP8000 travelling column floor-type milling machines and a pre-owned Marafuku travelling-table machining centre are en route to Newburgh Engineering Co - a Derbyshire, Peak district-based specialist medium-duty machinist and fabricator - to satisfy a long-term, high-volume machining contract. The new Soraluce machines are scheduled to join the already-installed Marafuku in the summer and, in the meantime to meet the throughput demands, Newburgh is utilising a re-sited horizontal borer and a Zayer bed mill that is on loan from Ward CNC. Of travelling column design, the Soraluce FP8000s purchased by Newburgh have 30 kW spindles and X, Y and Z axes travels of 8,000 mm by 2,000 mm and 1,200 mm.

The machines are fitted with orthogonal auto-indexing heads that offer 144 by 144 programmable positions on two perpendicular axes, thus enabling the machining of X parallel angled faces - an essential requirement of Newburgh's contract.

Additionally, the machines are to be equipped with automatic indexing tables for pendulum machining, and will feature auto component recognition and hydraulic clamping.

When faced with the selection of the additional capacity to meet the contract, Newburgh did not hesitate long in choosing Soraluce.

The company has been using a Soraluce SP-10000 fixed bed, travelling column milling machine for some time and it has proved a very good machine.

This coupled with Ward's ability to provide a complete turnkey solution, and the confidence gained from seeing Soraluce build machines in their excellent facility in Spain, secured the order.

As expected of a machine developed under the auspices of the Danobat Group's IDEKO research and development facility in Spain, the Soraluce FP8000 combines high-quality build and technologically advanced features for unmatched heavy-duty milling performance based on stability and rigidity obtained via heavy-duty cast iron construction.

Soraluce CNC milling machines are available in three variants - TL, TR and TF travelling table types; SL, SP and SM travelling column, bed types; and FP, FS and FR travelling column floor types.

Capacities range from 1,500 mm to 16,000 mm plus in the X axis, from 1,000 mm to 4,200 mm in Y and up to 1,500 mm in Z, with the latest linear guideway technology offering rapid traverse rates up to 15,000 mm/min.

Of five- and six-axis configuration, high-speed models with electro-spindle are also available.

Other options include universal indexing head and two-axis gyroscopic head for five- and six-axis applications.

Automatic toolchangers with up to 80 stations or more can be provided.

The machines are proving ideal for applications in the aerospace, heavy machinery, mould and press tool, fabrication, power generation, equipment and medium/heavy-duty sub-contract machining industries to name but a few.