A new gantry loader carrying a full 6-axis articulated-arm robot allows large and/or complex shaped parts to be loaded quickly into CNC lathes.

Takamaz CNC lathes from Yuasa Warwick Machinery may be fitted with a new gantry loader carrying a full 6-axis articulated-arm robot. The additional degrees of freedom allow large and/or complex shaped parts to be loaded quickly. The Japanese manufacturer says that, for example, a part that would take 10 seconds to load using a conventional 3-axis gantry arm may be loaded in 8 seconds using the robot.

As with any gantry loader / unloader, a line of lathes may be served.

The machine pictured is a 2-axis Takamaz X-18 lathe with 8 inch chuck, the possibility of C-axis and six 2.2/1.5kW stations in the 12-station drum-type turret.

Spindle options are 7.5/5.5kW - 3,500 rpm, 11/7.5kW- 3,500 rpm, and 11/7.5kW - 5,000 rpm.

Despite its power, the lathe has a footprint of just 2.5 square metres.

Maximum turning diameter and length are 320mm and 270mm respectively.