A new concept for components up to 36mm diameter transfers the well-proven technology of combined 'one-hit' front and backworking of bar components to fixed-head turning.

A new concept for components up to 36mm diameter and shown for the first time in the UK at MACH 2002, transfers the well-proven technology of combined 'one-hit' front and backworking of bar components to fixed-head turning. 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. 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 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 with seven tools, of which up to six can be driven, starts the range.

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

More complex components can be produced with the addition of a 5-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 10.7kW main and opposed headstock spindles with 0.001 degrees C-axis positioning, a top speed of 6,300 revs/min and developing 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 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 which are mounted on a common slideway to allow overlapped machining using over or undertaking techniques to optimise cutting cycle efficiency.

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 back-working station, five spindles of which four can be driven are provided with both X and Y-axis movements while the last spindle position can be fitted with a triple spindle live tool holder for 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.

CAD geometry can be downloaded and Traub's Polyform programming sequences for contouring combining X-Z and Y planes includes cutter radius compensation.