Table-type horizontal boring and milling machining centres offer a range of technology options for the cost-effective five-axis machining of prismatic workpieces.
With X, Y and Z axes travels up to 2500mm by 2500mm by 1600mm, the Union T table-type horizontal boring and milling machining centres available from exclusive UK agent Ward CNC will be represented at MACH 2002 by the TC110 horizontal borer. This, like all machines in the Union range, offers a range of technology options for the cost-effective five-axis machining of prismatic workpieces. For example, automatic tool changers, built-in NC facing heads and automatic pallet changers that can accommodate work weighing 16 tons all add to the T range's versatility.

The TC 110 features X, Y and Z axes travels of 1500mm or 2000mm by 1250mm or 1600mm by 1000mm or 1500mm, while W axis (spindle stroke) is 550mm and the B axis (rotary table) can be indexed in 360,000 positions.

Powered by a 22kW main motor, the machine features infinitely variable speeds of 8 to 4,000 revs/min and a torque of 2000Nm.

Feed rates for X, Y, Z and W axes are 5mm/min to 15m/min, while table rotation is 3 revs/min.

The 1000 mm by 1250 mm table can accommodate loads of 6,000kg, and the machine has optional compact coolant unit, 16 bar through-spindle coolant and 40- or 60-tool ATC.

It is constructed with heavily-ribbed beds featuring backlash-free compact roller guides of the table saddle and column infeed motion for precise, stick-slip free motion.

The column assembly is of rigid box-type cast iron construction, with precisely machined faces for the preloaded, compact roller guides.

Of solid cast iron construction, the headstock accommodates a high-precision main spindle system by means of preloaded spindle bearings with lifetime lubrication.

Boasting hardened and ground gears for automatic speed range changes, the gearbox is thermally stabilised.

One measure of the machine's cost-effectiveness, build quality and technical specification concerns the recent installation of a TC110 at CTL Engineering of Stockport.

With an already impressive portfolio of large- and medium-capacity CNC vertical and horizontal borers and machining centres, managing director Ian Booth identified the need for a mid-range horizontal borer to accommodate an increasing order book for medium-sized workpieces.

'We looked at three different options,' he says, 'and, on paper, the Union scored 10/10 in every department.

When we subsequently inspected the shortlisted machines, the Union outshone the rest.

'It clearly reflected modern design and build principles - featuring linear ways and high (15m/min) rapid traverse rates, for example - as well as being operator friendly in terms of both control technology (Heidenhain TNC 430M) and easy access.' 'We couldn't fault the machine - in fact, we saw advantages in every aspect of it!' In addition, CTL's purchase decision was swayed by Ward's impressive service and back-up record, of which CTL has experience since a secondhand vertical borer from the Ward Retrofit division is already in use.

The final clincher, adds Ian Booth, was after visiting Union's new manufacturing plant in Chemnitz, Germany.

'We were very impressed,' he says.

The TC110 is one of a number of Union boring and milling live spindle machining centres available from Ward CNC as well as Cetos cylindrical grinders, Hankook two-axis turning machines, Soraluce travelling column and travelling table milling machines and bed mills, Toshulin vertical boring, turning and milling machines as well as Kia CNC lathes, turning centres, and vertical and horizontal machining centres - representatives of which will also be on show at MACH 2002.