A new concept in fixed head turning for components up to 36mm diameter incorporates 'one-hit' front and backworking of bar components using up to three tools simultaneously.
A new concept in fixed head turning for components up to 36mm diameter incorporates the well-proven Traub production technology of combined 'one-hit' front and backworking of bar components. The new Traub TNK 36 has the ability to simultaneously machine with up to three tools, a technique widely used in CNC sliding head automatic lathes, but is available at a lower purchase cost in this fixed head orientated turning centre. Available in the UK from Traub Heckert UK of Brackley, the up to 10-axis Traub TNK 36 can provide an ideal 'sister' machine to the Traub TNL sliding head range.

It uses the same Traub-TX 8i, 64-bit RISC processor based control and will accommodate common tooling.

However, purchase cost benefits are derived against the sliding head machine because the TNK does not require a guide bush assembly, can produce components from lower cost, cold drawn bar instead of ground stock and requires a shorter bar end.

Developed in a modular format, the TNK 36 can be specified in four distinct versions.

A simple two-axis single spindle machine starts the range with seven tools, of which up to six can be driven.

By adding an opposed headstock spindle and three-axis, including a Y-axis cross feed turret, one-hit machining cycles involving both ends of a component can be introduced.

More complex components can be produced with the addition of a five-station front attachment and, with the full 10-axis version, a further five tool positions mounted alongside the opposed headstock, provide a highly comprehensive level of operational tool layout flexibility.

The 30 (degree) slant bed, top of the range machine, uses identical water-cooled 10.7 kW main and opposed headstock spindles with 0.001 (degree) C-axis positioning.

The top speed is 6,300 revs/min and the drive develops some 32Nm of torque.

The all-driven 12 station turret can be specified with central or individual drive via a 5.5kW AC motor.

It can accommodate double (gang style) tool holders which increases tool capacity, while the + 20mm Y-axis travel and a 0.55 second chip to chip index time significantly improves productivity.

Set on a common X-axis to the spindle, the front tool attachment will hold five tools in the opposed headstock spindle version of the machine.

However, without this headstock, the tool capacity can be increased to seven.

Two totally independent Z-axes power the opposed spindle headstock and front attachment and in order to optimise cutting cycle efficiency they are mounted on a common slideway which allows overlapped machining using over or undertaking techniques.

The front attachment also has a 30 bar coolant feed to all machining positions coupled with a flushing wash for the opposed headstock spindle.

With the five spindle back-working station, four can be driven and are provided with both X and Y-axis movements.

In addition, the last spindle position can be fitted with a triple spindle live tool holder to accommodate cross machining.

Rapid traverse rates for the opposed headstock and front attachment are 30m/min and 15m/min for the turret and back working station.

With the Traub-TX 8i control and WinFlex IPS graphic-object contour based programming, machining sequence and tool synchronisation is simple to initiate.