Citizen's new K-Series CNC sliding head automatic lathe combines two opposed spindles offering up to six turning tools, eight end-working tools and seven driven tools.

Citizen's new generation K-Series CNC sliding head automaticlathe combines two opposed spindles offering up to six turningtools, eight end-working tools and seven driven tools to givehigh precision single-hit cycles for parts up to 12 mm or 16 mmas an option. The stylised machine presents new Citizen livery oftwo shades of silver with a polished stainless highline andlift-up guarding for easy access to the working area. Fastfloor-to-floor cycle times and flexibility of setting were keydesign briefings on the new K-Series represented by the initiallaunch of the K12-VII.

The main spindle has a 3.7 kW drive, some50 per cent more powerful than the previous entry level B-Seriesmachines of Citizen and produces 15,000 revs/min.

The maximumspeed of the sub-spindle is 10,000 revs/min.

The main spindle hasC-axis as standard and the sub-spindle 150 indexing with anoption of full C-axis.

A massive 200 mm of headstock stroke isachieved through a synchronised motor driven guide bush.Unusually for this type of machine, the tool shank is 12 mm toenable heavier, faster cutting cycles from the higher rigiditymachine.

There is also an option for 10 mm shank tooling.

Thesesquare shank tools are mounted on the highly efficient yoke-styletool carrier set around, and close to the spindle, whichminimises tool travel.

And, even with the short distance betweentool and workpiece, the rapid travel rate is 32m/min, some 50%higher than the previous B-Series machine range.

Central tosimplicity of programming but also for ultra-fast dataprocessing, the Citizen K12 uses a special version of the latestFanuc 31i Series control system with newly developed processors.Citizen's own software minimises idle time, makes most ofthe high acceleration available for axis movements andcapitalises on the capability for optimising the cutting process.The machine is compact requiring a floor area of just 930 mm by1680 mm.