Obtaining the maximum productivity from 'single-cycle' mill/turning applications on CNC sliding head automatic lathe was the theme set by NC Engineering at its 2005 Open House.

Obtaining the maximum productivity from 'single-cycle' mill/turning applications for CNC sliding head auto produced components up to 32mm diameter and fixed head mill/turn centres up to 42mm capacity, was the theme set by NC Engineering for its Open House staged at its Bushey, Watford, UK. showroom in October 2005. Joined by leading tooling specialist Sandvik Coromant, demonstrating a new range of tooling at the event, NC Engineering showed under power for the first time in the UK, the production advantages available from three new machine developments by Citizen.

The two new sliding head machines, the high precision and fast cycling RO7 employing linear drive technology and the latest M16-V which, like the larger capacity M32, now employs a second Y-axis to the turret as well as the tool slide, provides a massive leap in flexibility for setting and shortening cycle times.

From the fixed head stable of Citizen Boley, the new BE 42 also brings many of the advantages and common elements of world-leading sliding head technology from Citizen to fixed head machining for parts up to 42mm diameter, using the main and subspindle and its twin, driven tool turrets.

Talking productivity increases is one thing - proving and quantifying the benefits is another and here, NC Engineering and Sandvik Coromant have had extensive successes at Citizen users generating huge savings from joint application development.

A recent prime example was at Monument Tools of Hackbridge, Surrey, UK, where two new Citizen M32 CNC sliding head machines replaced fixed head lathes and milling machines creating savings up to a massive 60%.

In addition, lead times have been significantly reduced by combining up to five separate operations into one with NC Engineering and Sandvik Coromant developing a special polygon turning process resulting in the reduction in cost of cutting tool inserts from GBP 45 to just GBP 3.

Also by switching to thinner CoroCut 1.5mm wide parting inserts consumption of steel bar has been reduced by a 1000m on a particular job.

Indeed, at the Open House, Sandvik Coromant demonstrated its new CoroCut MB (minibar) boring concept for grooving, turning and threading holes over 10mm diameter.

Also presented was CoroCut XS (extra small) for smaller bores down to 1mm diameter.

A new range of Delta C drills between 0.3 and 1.4mm.

Alongside the new citizen machines were the latest K-Series CNC sliding head auto in 12mm and 16mm capacities and the all new Citizen L20.

The first UK installation of two L20 machines in the UK at Unicut Precision have already enabled floor to floor times to be cut by up to 30% due to faster processing and dramatic reductions in idle times.