The latest 7-axis fixed-head Boley BE42-Y CNC lathe with Y-axis cross-feed to one of its two 12-station all-driven turrets enables complex three-axis interpolation.

The latest 7-axis fixed-head Boley BE42-Y CNC lathewith Y-axis cross-feed to one of its two 12-station all-driven turrets enables complex three-axis interpolation, off-centre cross-drilling, milling and slitting with standard tool holders and fast and precise setting of tooling centre height for machining components up to 42mm diameter to high orders of geometric and size tolerance in a single hit cycle. The Citizen Boley BE 42-Y to be exhibited in the latest two-tone silver livery on the NC Engineering Stand 5262 at MACH 2006 has the added capability to perform cycles such as eccentric cross-milling and machining requiring three-axis helical interpolation on components out of a maximum bar size of up to 42mm bar or on chucking applications up to 140mm diameter, and to further its machining capability and reduce cycle times up to three tools can be engaged with the component in the main and subspindle machining positions. Able to transfer parts between its main and sub spindles, which have full C-axis capability for mill/turn sequences, the two identical 12-station turrets with one second indexing and a 1kW, 4,500 rev/min drive to each tool position are able to carry up to 48 tools.

This is achieved because both turrets have additional index positions set between each station which means up to 24 tools can be set on each turret.

When this tool carrying capability is combined with the addition of the +/-40mm Y-axis cross-feed to the top turret, the versatility of the machine increases further due to the freedom of turret axis movements to both main and secondary spindles.

The spindle is a high precision unit able to create enhanced ceramic surface finishes due to the employment of bearing technology with liquid cooling.

The spindle is powered by an 11kW, AC built-in motor giving between 80 and 8,000 rev/min.

The collet is hydraulically operated for bar machining and to create a higher gripping force when using the optional 140mm capacity chuck.

The sub spindle is powered by a 3.7kW 6,000 rev/min drive.

In its chucking lathe guise, the Boley BE42-Y has the facility to carry a collet in the sub spindle and is able to pick-up the component from the main spindle by locating from a previously turned diameter.

It is then transferred at a traverse rate of 24m/min ready to position for second operational machining.

In addition, the sub spindle also incorporates an 110mm X-2 cross-feed axis to enable component features that are dimensioned from the centre line to be accurately machined.

The Boley BE42-Y has a 30deg slant bed and adopts many of the proven features of the existing Boley fixed spindle and citizen cnc sliding head range including a common CNC control system with high speed processing capability, and handwheel control for easy program prove out.

The machine is compact with a floor area of 2350mm by 1560mm.

Options available include chute-type workpiece outfeed or conveyor, a back-spindle thread chasing device, automatic part-off, tooling monitoring and breakage detection and an automatic component loading system for chucking work.