As well as milling and drilling, a 32mm capacity CNC sliding head automatic will also perform deep-hole drilling and boring to a 60:1 length:diameter ratio.

As well as milling and drilling, a 32mm capacity CNC sliding head automatic will also perform deep-hole drilling and boring to a 60:1 length:diameter ratio. Adding the cost-effective production of turned and milled features to components up to 32mm diameter, which also have deep hole drilling and boring requirements, will be demonstrated on the latest C32-VIII CNC sliding head automatic lathe from Citizen at MACH 2004. The new machine, now available from NC Engineering of Watford, is able to produce deep holes up to 60:1 length to diameter ratio which equates to a 200mm depth for holes of 3mm diameter.

Power to the 8,000 revs/min main and 7,000 revs/min sub-spindles is high for a sliding head machine at 7.5kW and 3.7kW respectively.

A further advantage of this 32mm capacity machine is its highly flexible tooling arrangement which enables very short cycle times to be achieved and is enhanced with the capability to use up to three tools cutting at the same time.

And with a new control, processor and high speed macro software development, any lost time through axis positioning is minimised while special feature machining such as rigid tapping and threading can be carried out at higher speeds than before.

The C32-VIII has two vertical gang tool posts.

One has five turning tools and four, 1kW, 4,500 revs/min driven tool positions while the second gang tool slide will accommodate four front machining tools in conjunction with the main spindle and has five positions with an option for four 1kW powered rotary tools to perform operations at the secondary spindle.

As an example of its simultaneous machining capability, while the current part is held in the main spindle, the outside diameter can be turned from the gang tool post while it is drilled from the second gang tool slide at the same time as the back tool position of the same slide is used to machine a feature at the secondary spindle.

To maximise the deep hole drilling capability of the machine, program controlled high pressure coolant delivery at up to 2,000lb/in2 ensures optimised tool penetration rates with good surface finish and extended tool life through precise control over any swarf generated by the tooling.

As an option, a 1kW rotary tool drive can be fitted to the second gang tool post which will enable features on the front face of a component, such as pitch hole drilling and slot milling, to be performed in-cycle.