Faster production cycles, higher quality surface finishes and 'dual' machining capability are on offer with the new high-speed electro-spindle now available for Soraluce CNC milling machines
Faster production cycles, higher quality surface finishes and 'dual' machining capability are just some of the major benefits on offer with the new high-speed electro-spindle now available for Soraluce CNC milling machines from Ward CNC of Sheffield. The compact 20 kW synchronous spindle motor - which produces 21,000 revs/min - boasts short acceleration times and a constant torque of 18 Nm, plus surface finishes of 0.4 Ra compared with 0.6 Ra with a traditional asynchronous spindle. The result is that Soraluce users can effectively broaden their machining capability by 'doubling up' machine capacity.

This will permit roughing and finishing with the same spindle, or users can quickly and easily swap the new unit with the standard automatic indexing head arrangement used for heavy metal removal, to suit the task in hand.

The 'cold' rotor also extends the lifetime of the bearings - equating to a spindle life of at least 7,000 hours compared with the usual 3,000 hours available from an asynchronous unit.

This is courtesy of the very low levels of vibration generated by this low-inertia unit, and its ability to achieve balance independent of both speed and power.

Available as optional extra on Ward CNC's range of Soraluce CNC milling machines which 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 - the new electro-spindle doubles the effective machining capability of the range at relatively low cost.

Pick up of the electro-spindle, which is located to one side of the machine table, is via the machine's automatic head, followed by automatic clamping then connection using manual quick-switch connectors.

The use of a Hirth coupling makes for an extremely rigid arrangement - and the whole process takes only seconds! Ward CNC's five- and six-axis Soraluce CNC milling machines range in capacity from 1,500 mm to 16,000 mm plus in the X axis, from 1,000 mm to 3,600 mm in Y and up to 1,500 mm in Z.

The latest linear guideway technology offers rapid traverse rates up to 15,000 mm/min.

Spindle motors range from 28 kW to 37 kW.

In addition to the electro-spindle feature, other options include universal or orthogonal automatic indexing heads and two-axis gyroscopic head for five- and six-axis applications.